Levomed Dosage/Direction for Use

Dosage should be titrated to the individual patient needs and this may require adjusting both the individual dose and the frequency of administration.
Each tablet of LEVOMED is designed to divide in half with minimal pressure.
Response has been observed in one day, and sometimes after one dose. Fully effective doses usually are reached within seven days as compared to weeks or months with Levodopa alone.
Studies show that the peripheral enzyme dopa decarboxylase is fully inhibited (saturated) by Carbidopa at doses between 70 and 150mg daily. Patients receiving less than this amount of Carbidopa are more likely to experience nausea and vomiting.
Because both therapeutic and adverse responses occur more rapidly with LEVOMED than when Levodopa is given, patients should be monitored closely during the dose adjustment period. Specifically, involuntary movements will occur more rapidly with LEVOMED than with Levodopa. The occurrence of involuntary movements may require dosage reduction. Blepharospasm may be a useful early sign of excess dosage in some patients.
Patients Not Receiving Levodopa: An occasional patient may need more Levodopa. NO advantage will be gained by increasing the amount of Carbidopa above 200mg per day.
Patients Receiving Levodopa: Levodopa should be discontinued at least 12 hours before LEVOMED is started (24 hours for slow-release preparations of Levodopa). A daily dosage of LEVOMED should be chosen that will provide approximately 20% of the previous Levodopa daily dosage.
Patients Receiving Levodopa and Another Decarboxylase inhibitor: When transferring a patient to LEVOMED from Levodopa combined with another decarboxylase inhibitor, discontinue dosage at least 12 hours before LEVOMED is started.
Begin with a dosage of LEVOMED that will provide the same amount of Levodopa as contained in the other Levodopa/decarboxylase inhibitor combination.
Patients Receiving Other Standard Antiparkinsonian Drugs: Current evidence indicates that other standard antiparkinsonian drugs may be continued although dosage may have to be adjusted.