Stalevo ratings & reviews

The brand name of the medication is Stalevo. It contains the active ingredients carbidopa, levodopa, and entacapone, which are designed to help with Parkinson's disease. Carbidopa acts as an inhibitor of aromatic amino acid decarboxylation, while entacapone is a COMT inhibitor. The medication is available as tablets with various strengths and is taken orally. Some of the inactive ingredients include corn starch, microcrystalline cellulose, and magnesium stearate.

How should I use this medication?

Take this medication by mouth with a glass of water. Take it as directed on the prescription label at the same time every day. Do not cut, crush, or chew this medication. Swallow the tablets whole. You can take it with or without food. If it upsets your stomach, take it with food. However, avoid foods that are high in fat, calories, and protein for 2 hours before and after taking this medication. Talk to your care team if you have questions. Keep taking it unless your care team tells you to stop.

Talk to your care team about the use of this medication in children. Special care may be needed.

Overdosage: If you think you have taken too much of this medicine contact a poison control center or emergency room at once.

NOTE: This medicine is only for you. Do not share this medicine with others.

What if I miss a dose?

If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you can. If it is almost time for your next dose, take only that dose. Do not take double or extra doses.

Where should I keep my medication?

Keep out of the reach of children and pets.

Store between 15 and 30 degrees C (59 and 86 degrees F). Get rid of any unused medication after the expiration date.

To get rid of medications that are no longer needed or have expired:

• Take the medication to a take-back program. Check with your pharmacy or law enforcement to find a location.
• If you cannot return the medication, check the label or package insert to see if the medication should be thrown out in the garbage or flushed down the toilet. If you are not sure, ask your care team. If it is safe to put it in the trash, empty the medication out of the container. Mix the medication with cat litter, dirt, coffee grounds, or other unwanted substance. Seal the mixture in a bag or container. Put it in the trash.

NOTE: This sheet is a summary. It may not cover all possible information. If you have questions about this medicine, talk to your doctor, pharmacist, or health care provider.

What side effects may I notice from receiving this medication?

Side effects that you should report to your care team as soon as possible:

• Allergic reactions—skin rash, itching, hives, swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat
• Falling asleep during daily activities
• Fever that does not go away, fast breathing or heartbeat, fatigue
• Liver injury—right upper belly pain, loss of appetite, nausea, light-colored stool, dark yellow or brown urine, yellowing skin or eyes, unusual weakness or fatigue
• Mood and behavior changes—anxiety, nervousness, confusion, hallucinations, irritability, hostility, thoughts of suicide or self-harm, worsening mood, feelings of depression
• Low blood pressure—dizziness, feeling faint or lightheaded, blurry vision
• Muscle injury—unusual weakness or fatigue, muscle pain, dark yellow or brown urine, decrease in amount of urine
• New or worsening uncontrolled and repetitive movements of the face, mouth, or upper body
• Sudden or severe stomach pain, bloody diarrhea, fever, nausea, vomiting
• Urges to engage in impulsive behaviors such as gambling, binge eating, sexual activity, or shopping in ways that are unusual for you

Side effects that usually do not require medical attention (report to your care team if they continue or are bothersome):

• Change in urine color
• Confusion
• Diarrhea
• Dry mouth
• Nausea
• Stomach pain
• Vomiting

This list may not describe all possible side effects. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

What should I tell my care team before I take this medication?

They need to know if you have any of these conditions:

• Depression or other mental health condition
• Diabetes
• Glaucoma
• Heart disease, including history of a heart attack
• History of irregular heartbeat
• Kidney disease
• Liver disease
• Lung or breathing disease, such as asthma
• Narcolepsy
• Sleep apnea
• Stomach or intestine problems
• An unusual or allergic reaction to levodopa, carbidopa, entacapone, other medications, foods, dyes, or preservatives
• Pregnant or trying to get pregnant
• Breast-feeding

What may interact with this medication?

Do not take this medication with any of the following:

• MAOIs, such as Marplan, Nardil, and Parnate

This medication may also interact with the following:

• Alcohol
• Apomorphine
• Bitolterol
• Certain antibiotics, such as ampicillin, erythromycin, linezolid
• Certain medications for sleep or anxiety
• Chloramphenicol
• Cholestyramine
• Dobutamine
• Dopamine
• Droperidol
• Epinephrine
• Iron supplements
• Isoproterenol
• Isoniazid, INH
• Medications for depression, anxiety, or mental health conditions
• Medications for high blood pressure
• Metoclopramide
• Opioid medications for pain
• Norepinephrine
• Papaverine
• Phenytoin
• Probenecid
• Reserpine
• Rifampin
• Warfarin

This list may not describe all possible interactions. Give your health care provider a list of all the medicines, herbs, non-prescription drugs, or dietary supplements you use. Also tell them if you smoke, drink alcohol, or use illegal drugs. Some items may interact with your medicine.

What should I watch for while using this medication?

Visit your care team for regular checks on your progress. Tell your care team if your symptoms do not start to get better or if they get worse.

A severe reaction similar to neuroleptic malignant syndrome (NMS) may occur if you reduce the dose of or stop taking this medication too quickly. Symptoms of NMS include high fever, stiff muscles, increased sweating, fast or irregular heartbeat, and confusion. Contact your care team right away if think you have NMS.

This medication may affect your coordination, reaction time, or judgment. Do not drive or operate machinery until you know how this medication affects you. Sit up or stand slowly to reduce the risk of dizzy or fainting spells. Drinking alcohol with this medication can increase the risk of these side effects.

When taking this medication, you may fall asleep without notice. You may be doing activities, such as driving a car, talking, or eating. You may not feel drowsy before it happens. Contact your care team right away if this happens to you.

There have been reports of increased sexual urges or other strong urges, such as gambling while taking this medication. If you experience any of these while taking this medication, you should report this to your care team as soon as possible.

You may experience a 'wearing off' effect before it is time to take your next dose of this medication. You may also experience an 'on-off' effect where the medication seems to stop working for minutes to hours, then suddenly starts working again. Tell your care team if this happens to you. Your dose may need to be adjusted.

Eating high protein foods may affect how this medication works. Tell your care team if you change your diet.

Do not take iron supplements within 2 hours of taking this medication.

If you have diabetes, you may get a false-positive result for sugar in your urine. Check with your care team.

This medication can make your saliva, sweat, or urine look dark red or black. This is normal but may stain clothing or fabrics.

This medication may cause low levels of vitamin B6 in your body. Make sure that you get enough vitamin B6 while you are taking this medication. Discuss the foods you eat and the vitamins you take with your care team.

Your mouth may get dry. Chewing sugarless gum or sucking hard candy and drinking plenty of water may help. Contact your care team if the problem does not go away or is severe.

Talk to your care team about your risk of skin cancer. You may be more at risk for skin cancer if you take this medication.