Carbidopa and Levodopa 25 mg; 100 mg Tablet, Extended Release, 100-count
🆔 Identity & classification
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🏷️ RxNorm drug class
This medicine belongs to the Aromatic Amino Acid Decarboxylation Inhibitor class.
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🏭 Manufacturer & labeler
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🩺 Clinical
Levodopa and carbidopa is used to treat the symptoms of Parkinson's disease and Parkinson's-like symptoms that may develop after encephalitis (swelling of the brain) or injury to the nervous system caused by carbon monoxide poisoning or manganese poisoning. Levodopa is in a class of medications called central nervous system agents. It works by being converted to dopamine in the brain (the natural substance that is low in Parkinson's and causes the symptoms of tremor, stiffness, and slowness of movement). Carbidopa is in a class of medications called decarboxylase inhibitors. It works by preven...
Read the full MedlinePlus article ↗- Levodopa is the medicine that actually works in your brain — it crosses into the brain and gets converted into dopamine, the chemical that Parkinson's disease depletes. The problem...
- What exactly does levodopa and carbidopa do, and why do I need both?
- Generally yes, but the timing and content of your meals can matter. High-protein foods — like large servings of meat, eggs, or dairy — can compete with levodopa for absorption in y...
- Can I eat normally while taking this medication?
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💊 What it looks like
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🧪 Inactive Ingredients / Excipients
Inactive ingredients, also called excipients, are components of the drug product other than the active ingredient. They may include fillers, dyes, coatings, preservatives, flavors, or other formulation ingredients.
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UNII L06K8R7DQK
A synthetic blue dye approved by the FDA for use in medications and foods. It serves as a colorant to make pills and liquids visually distinct and easier to identify.
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UNII WZB9127XOA
A synthetic red dye used to color medications and make them easier to identify. It serves as a colorant in tablets, capsules, and liquid formulations.
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UNII 9XZ8H6N6OH
A plant-based cellulose derivative used as a binder to hold tablet ingredients together, a thickener in liquids, and a coating agent to control how fast the medicine dissolves.
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UNII 39J80LT57T
Hypromellose 2208 is a plant-derived thickening agent used as a binder and film-coating material. It helps hold tablet ingredients together and creates a protective coating on pills to control how quickly medicine dissolves.
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UNII 70097M6I30
Magnesium stearate is a salt made from magnesium and stearic acid, a fatty substance. It's used in tablets and capsules as a lubricant and glidant to help ingredients flow smoothly during manufacturing and prevent sticking.
5 inactive ingredients listed in the exact product block matched to this NDC.
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ingredient classCode="IACT" elements from the exact product block matched by this NDC. Label-section narrative from DailyMed / the openFDA label index is shown separately when available.Inactive ingredient FAQ
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💲 Pricing
A drug doesn't have one price. Each row is a different public payment system, and none is what you'd pay at the counter — that depends on your insurance. The ⓘ on each row explains what it measures.
| Price system | Per ea | Per package |
|---|---|---|
| Retail pharmacies payNADAC · weekly | $0.114 | $11.37 / 100 tablets |
| Medicaid paysCMS SDUD · 12 mo | $0.2024 | $20.24 / 100 tablets |
| Medicare drug plans payPart D · quarterly | No Part D plan price is available for this NDC in our data. | |
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🔁 Therapeutic equivalents
| Product | Labeler | Pack | NADAC/unit | TE | Status | Price vs. this |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carbidopa and Levodopa 25 mg/1; 100 mgthis 00378-0088-01 | Mylan | 100 tablets | $0.114 | AB | Availability likely | — |
| Carbidopa and Levodopa 25 mg/1; 100 mg 50228-0460-01 | ScieGen | 100 tablets | $0.114 | AB | Availability likely | — |
| Carbidopa and Levodopa 25 mg/1; 100 mg 51079-0978-20 | Mylan | 1 tablet | $0.114 | AB | Availability likely | — |
| Carbidopa and Levodopa 25 mg/1; 100 mg 60219-2033-01 | Amneal | 100 tablets | $0.114 | AB | Availability likely | — |
| Carbidopa And Levodopa 25 mg/1; 100 mg 16729-0078-01 | Accord | 100 tablets | $0.116 | AB | Availability likely | +2% |
| Carbidopa and Levodopa 25 mg/1; 100 mg 00615-8460-39 | NCS | 30 tablets | — | AB | FDA listed | — |
| Carbidopa and Levodopa 25 mg/1; 100 mg 46708-0332-30 | Alembic | 30 tablets | — | AB | FDA listed | — |
| Carbidopa and Levodopa 25 mg/1; 100 mg 48433-0015-20 | Safecor | 1 tablet | — | AB | FDA listed | — |
| Carbidopa and Levodopa 25 mg/1; 100 mg 62332-0332-30 | Alembic | 30 tablets | — | AB | FDA listed | — |
| Carbidopa And Levodopa 25 mg/1; 100 mg 62756-0461-08 | Sun | 100 tablets | — | — | FDA listed | — |
| Carbidopa and Levodopa 25 mg/1; 100 mg 72162-2194-01 | Bryant | 100 tablets | — | AB | FDA listed | — |
| Carbidopa and levodopa 25 mg/1; 100 mg 72888-0155-00 | Advagen | 1000 tablets | — | AB | FDA listed | — |
| Carbidopa and Levodopa 25 mg/1; 100 mg 77771-0460-01 | Radha | 100 tablets | — | AB | FDA listed | — |
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⏳ Availability & generic status
This product is an FDA-approved generic. Other versions of the same drug are listed under Therapeutic equivalents, least expensive first.
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🗺️ Medicaid utilization & spend
🔬 Reported adverse events (FAERS)
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📦 Packaging — all sizes for this product
| Package NDC | Description | Marketing start | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 00378-0088-01 You're viewing this | 100 TABLET, EXTENDED RELEASE in 1 BOTTLE, PLASTIC (0378-0088-01) | 2000-04-26 | Active |
📄 Full prescribing information FDA SPL
🎯 Indications and Usage ▾
INDICATIONS AND USAGE Carbidopa and levodopa extended-release tablets are indicated in the treatment of Parkinson’s disease, post-encephalitic parkinsonism, and symptomatic parkinsonism that may follow carbon monoxide intoxication or manganese intoxication.
⏱️ Dosage and Administration ▾
DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION Carbidopa and levodopa extended-release tablets contain carbidopa and levodopa in a 1:4 ratio as either the 50-200 tablet or the 25-100 tablet. The daily dosage of carbidopa and levodopa extended-release tablets must be determined by careful titration. Patients should be monitored closely during the dose adjustment period, particularly with regard to appearance or worsening of involuntary movements, dyskinesias or nausea.
Carbidopa and levodopa extended-release tablets should not be chewed or crushed. Standard drugs for Parkinson’s disease, other than levodopa without a decarboxylase inhibitor, may be used concomitantly while carbidopa and levodopa extended-release tablets are being administered, although their dosage may have to be adjusted. Since carbidopa prevents the reversal of levodopa effects caused by pyridoxine, carbidopa and levodopa extended-release tablets can be given to patients receiving supplemental pyridoxine (vitamin B 6 ).
Management of Vitamin B 6 Levels Evaluate vitamin B 6 levels prior to initiating carbidopa/levodopa therapies including carbidopa and levodopa extended-release tablets, periodically during treatment, and as clinically indicated (see WARNINGS, Vitamin B6 Deficiency and Seizures ). If vitamin B 6 levels are low, supplement to sufficient levels per standard of care. Patients may initiate and continue treatment with carbidopa and levodopa extended-release tablets while supplementing vitamin B 6 .
Initial Dosage Patients currently treated with conventional carbidopa levodopa preparations Studies show that peripheral dopa-decarboxylase is saturated by the bioavailable carbidopa at doses of 70 mg a day and greater. Because the bioavailabilities of carbidopa and levodopa in carbidopa and levodopa immediate-release tablets and carbidopa and levodopa extended-release tablets are different, appropriate adjustments should be made, as shown in Table 2. Table 2: Approximate Bioavailabilities at Steady State This table is only a guide to bioavailabilities since other factors such as food, drugs, and inter-patient variabilities may affect the bioavailability of carbidopa and levodopa.
Tablet Amount of Levodopa (mg) in Each Tablet Approximate Bioavailability Approximate Amount of Bioavailable Levodopa (mg) in Each Tablet Carbidopa and Levodopa Extended-Release Tablets 50 mg/200 mg 200 0.70-0.75 The extent of availability of levodopa from carbidopa and levodopa extended-release tablets was about 70-75% relative to intravenous levodopa or standard carbidopa and levodopa immediate-release tablets in the elderly. 140-150 Carbidopa and Levodopa Immediate-Release Tablets 25 mg/100 mg 100
0.99The extent of availability of levodopa from carbidopa and levodopa immediate-release tablets was 99% relative to intravenous levodopa in the healthy elderly. 99 Dosage with carbidopa and levodopa extended-release tablets should be substituted at an amount that provides approximately 10% more levodopa per day, although this may need to be increased to a dosage that provides up to 30% more levodopa per day depending on clinical response (see DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION, Titration with Carbidopa and Levodopa Extended-Release Tablets ).
The interval between doses of carbidopa and levodopa extended-release tablets should be 4-8 hours during the waking day (see CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY, Pharmacodynamics ). A guideline for initiation of carbidopa and levodopa extended-release tablets is shown in Table 3. Table 3: Guidelines for Initial Conversion from Carbidopa and Levodopa Immediate-Release Tablets to Carbidopa and Levodopa Extended-Release Tablets Carbidopa and Levodopa Immediate-Release Tablets Total Daily Dose For dosing ranges not shown in the table see DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION, Initial Dosage — Patients currently treated with conventional carbidopa and levodopa preparations .
Levodopa (mg) Carbidopa and Levodopa Extended-Release Tablets Suggested Dosage Regimen 300-400 200 mg b.i.d. 500-600 300 mg b.i.d…
⛔ Contraindications ▾
CONTRAINDICATIONS Nonselective monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitors are contraindicated for use with carbidopa and levodopa extended-release tablets. These inhibitors must be discontinued at least two weeks prior to initiating therapy with carbidopa and levodopa extended-release. Carbidopa and levodopa extended-release may be administered concomitantly with the manufacturer’s recommended dose of an MAO inhibitor with selectivity for MAO type B (e.g., selegiline HCl) (see PRECAUTIONS, Drug Interactions ).
Carbidopa and levodopa extended-release is contraindicated in patients with known hypersensitivity to any component of this drug, and in patients with narrow-angle glaucoma.
⚠️ Warnings ▾
WARNINGS When patients are receiving levodopa without a decarboxylase inhibitor, levodopa must be discontinued at least twelve hours before carbidopa and levodopa extended-release is started. In order to reduce adverse reactions, it is necessary to individualize therapy. See DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION section before initiating therapy.
Carbidopa and levodopa extended-release should be substituted at a dosage that will provide approximately 25% of the previous levodopa dosage (see DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION ). Carbidopa does not decrease adverse reactions due to central effects of levodopa. By permitting more levodopa to reach the brain, particularly when nausea and vomiting is not a dose-limiting factor, certain adverse central nervous system (CNS) effects, e.g., dyskinesias, will occur at lower dosages and sooner during therapy with carbidopa and levodopa extended-release than with levodopa alone.
Patients receiving carbidopa and levodopa extended-release may develop increased dyskinesias compared to carbidopa and levodopa immediate-release. Dyskinesias are a common side effect of carbidopa levodopa treatment. The occurrence of dyskinesias may require dosage reduction.
All patients should be observed carefully for the development of depression with concomitant suicidal tendencies. Carbidopa and levodopa extended-release should be administered cautiously to patients with severe cardiovascular or pulmonary disease, bronchial asthma, renal, hepatic or endocrine disease. As with levodopa, care should be exercised in administering carbidopa and levodopa extended-release to patients with a history of myocardial infarction who have residual atrial, nodal, or ventricular arrhythmias.
In such patients, cardiac function should be monitored with particular care during the period of initial dosage adjustment, in a facility with provisions for intensive cardiac care. As with levodopa, treatment with carbidopa and levodopa extended-release may increase the possibility of upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage in patients with a history of peptic ulcer. Vitamin B 6 Deficiency and Seizures Treatment with carbidopa and levodopa extended-release may contribute to reduced vitamin B 6 levels.
Higher doses of carbidopa/levodopa may increase the risk of vitamin B 6 deficiency. Seizures associated with vitamin B 6 deficiency have been reported in the postmarketing setting in patients taking carbidopa and levodopa extended-release. In these reported cases, seizures were refractory to traditional anti-seizure medications and only resolved after vitamin B 6 administration.
Other symptoms of vitamin B 6 deficiency may occur, including depression, confusion, cheilosis, glossitis, dermatitis, anemia, and/or neuropathy. Evaluate vitamin B 6 levels prior to initiation of carbidopa and levodopa extended-release and periodically while on treatment or if symptoms associated with vitamin B 6 deficiency are identified. Supplement with vitamin B 6 as necessary.
Falling Asleep During Activities of Daily Living and Somnolence Patients taking carbidopa and levodopa extended-release alone or with other dopaminergic drugs have reported suddenly falling asleep without prior warning of sleepiness while engaged in activities of daily living (includes operation of motor vehicles). Road traffic accidents attributed to sudden sleep onset have been reported. Although many patients reported somnolence while on dopaminergic medications, there have been reports of road traffic accidents attributed to sudden onset of sleep in which the patient did not perceive any warning signs, such as excessive drowsiness, and believed that they were alert immediately prior to the event.
Sudden onset of sleep has been reported to occur as long as one year after the initiation of treatment. Falling asleep while engaged in activities of daily living usually occurs in patients experiencing preexisting somnolence, although some patients may not give such a history. For this reason, prescribers should re…
🤒 Adverse Reactions ▾
ADVERSE REACTIONS In controlled clinical trials, patients predominantly with moderate to severe motor fluctuations while on carbidopa and levodopa immediate-release were randomized to therapy with either carbidopa and levodopa immediate-release or carbidopa and levodopa extended-release. The adverse experience frequency profile of carbidopa and levodopa extended-release did not differ substantially from that of carbidopa and levodopa immediate-release, as shown in Table 1. Table 1: Clinical Adverse Experiences Occurring in 1% or Greater of Patients Adverse Experience Carbidopa and Levodopa Extended-Release n = 491 % Carbidopa and Levodopa Immediate-Release n = 524 % Dyskinesia 16.5
12.2Nausea 5.5
5.7Hallucinations 3.9
3.2Confusion 3.7
2.3Dizziness 2.9
2.3Depression 2.2
1.3Urinary tract infection 2.2
2.3Headache 2.0
1.9Dream abnormalities 1.8
0.8Dystonia 1.8
0.8Vomiting 1.8
1.9Upper respiratory infection 1.8
1.0Dyspnea 1.6 0.4 ‘On-Off’ phenomena 1.6
1.1Back pain 1.6
0.6Dry mouth 1.4
1.1Anorexia 1.2
1.1Diarrhea 1.2
0.6Insomnia 1.2
1.0Orthostatic hypotension 1.0
1.1Shoulder pain 1.0
0.6Chest pain 1.0
0.8Muscle cramps 0.8
1.0Paresthesia 0.8
1.1Urinary frequency 0.8
1.1Dyspepsia 0.6
1.1Constipation 0.2
1.5Abnormal laboratory findings occurring at a frequency of 1% or greater in approximately 443 patients who received carbidopa and levodopa extended-release and 475 who received carbidopa and levodopa immediate-release during controlled clinical trials included: decreased hemoglobin and hematocrit; elevated serum glucose; white blood cells, bacteria and blood in the urine. The adverse experiences observed in patients in uncontrolled studies were similar to those seen in controlled clinical studies. Other adverse experiences reported overall in clinical trials in 748 patients treated with carbidopa and levodopa extended-release, listed by body system in order of decreasing frequency, include: Body as a Whole Asthenia, fatigue, abdominal pain, orthostatic effects.
Cardiovascular Palpitation, hypertension, hypotension, myocardial infarction. Gastrointestinal Gastrointestinal pain, dysphagia, heartburn. Metabolic Weight loss.
Musculoskeletal Leg pain. Nervous System/Psychiatric Chorea, somnolence, falling, anxiety, disorientation, decreased mental acuity, gait abnormalities, extrapyramidal disorder, agitation, nervousness, sleep disorders, memory impairment. Respiratory Cough, pharyngeal pain, common cold.
Skin Rash. Special Senses Blurred vision. Urogenital Urinary incontinence.
Laboratory Tests Decreased white blood cell count and serum potassium; increased BUN, serum creatinine and serum LDH; protein and glucose in the urine. The following adverse experiences have been reported in postmarketing experience with carbidopa and levodopa extended-release: Cardiovascular Cardiac irregularities, syncope. Gastrointestinal Taste alterations, dark saliva.
Hypersensitivity Angioedema, urticaria, pruritus, bullous lesions (including pemphigus-like reactions). Nervous System/Psychiatric Increased tremor, peripheral neuropathy, psychotic episodes including delusions and paranoid ideation, pathological gambling, increased libido including hypersexuality, impulse control symptoms, seizures (including convulsions). Skin Alopecia, flushing, dark sweat.
Urogenital Dark urine. Other adverse reactions that have been reported with levodopa alone and with various carbidopa levodopa formulations and may occur with carbidopa and levodopa extended-release are: Cardiovascular Phlebitis. Gastrointestinal Gastrointestinal bleeding, development of duodenal ulcer, sialorrhea, bruxism, hiccups, flatulence, burning sensation of tongue.
Hematologic Hemolytic and non-hemolytic anemia, thrombocytopenia, leukopenia, agranulocytosis. Hypersensitivity Henoch-Schönlein purpura. Metabolic Weight gain, edema.
Nervous System/Psychiatric Ataxia, depression with suicidal tendencies, dementia, euphoria, bradykinetic episodes, numbness, muscle twitching,…
🔄 Drug Interactions ▾
Drug Interactions Caution should be exercised when the following drugs are administered concomitantly with carbidopa and levodopa extended-release. Symptomatic postural hypotension has occurred when carbidopa levodopa preparations were added to the treatment of patients receiving some antihypertensive drugs. Therefore, when therapy with carbidopa and levodopa extended-release is started, dosage adjustment of the antihypertensive drug may be required.
For patients receiving MAO inhibitors (Type A or B), see CONTRAINDICATIONS . Concomitant therapy with selegiline and carbidopa levodopa may be associated with severe orthostatic hypotension not attributable to carbidopa levodopa alone (see CONTRAINDICATIONS ). There have been rare reports of adverse reactions, including hypertension and dyskinesia, resulting from the concomitant use of tricyclic antidepressants and carbidopa levodopa preparations.
Dopamine D 2 receptor antagonists (e.g., phenothiazines, butyrophenones, risperidone) and isoniazid may reduce the therapeutic effects of levodopa. In addition, the beneficial effects of levodopa in Parkinson’s disease have been reported to be reversed by phenytoin and papaverine. Patients taking these drugs with carbidopa and levodopa extended-release should be carefully observed for loss of therapeutic response.
Use of carbidopa and levodopa extended-release with dopamine-depleting agents (e.g., reserpine and tetrabenazine) or other drugs known to deplete monoamine stores is not recommended. Carbidopa and levodopa extended-release and iron salts or multivitamins containing iron salts should be coadministered with caution. Iron salts can form chelates with levodopa and carbidopa and consequently reduce the bioavailability of carbidopa and levodopa.
Although metoclopramide may increase the bioavailability of levodopa by increasing gastric emptying, metoclopramide may also adversely affect disease control by its dopamine receptor antagonistic properties.
🤰 Pregnancy ▾
Pregnancy No teratogenic effects were observed in a study in mice receiving up to 20 times the maximum recommended human dose of carbidopa and levodopa immediate-release. There was a decrease in the number of live pups delivered by rats receiving approximately two times the maximum recommended human dose of carbidopa and approximately five times the maximum recommended human dose of levodopa during organogenesis. Carbidopa and levodopa immediate-release caused both visceral and skeletal malformations in rabbits at all doses and ratios of carbidopa/levodopa tested, which ranged from 10 times/5 times the maximum recommended human dose of carbidopa/levodopa to 20 times/10 times the maximum recommended human dose of carbidopa/levodopa.
There are no adequate or well-controlled studies in pregnant women. It has been reported from individual cases that levodopa crosses the human placental barrier, enters the fetus, and is metabolized. Carbidopa concentrations in fetal tissue appeared to be minimal.
Use of carbidopa and levodopa extended-release in women of childbearing potential requires that the anticipated benefits of the drug be weighed against possible hazards to mother and child.
🧒 Pediatric Use ▾
Pediatric Use Safety and effectiveness in pediatric patients have not been established. Use of the drug in patients below the age of 18 is not recommended.
🧓 Geriatric Use ▾
Geriatric Use In the clinical efficacy trials for carbidopa and levodopa immediate-release, almost half of the patients were older than 65, but few were older than 75. No overall meaningful differences in safety or effectiveness were observed between these subjects and younger subjects, but greater sensitivity of some older individuals to adverse drug reactions such as hallucinations cannot be ruled out. There is no specific dosing recommendation based upon clinical pharmacology data as carbidopa and levodopa immediate-release and carbidopa and levodopa extended-release are titrated as tolerated for clinical effect.
🆘 Overdosage ▾
OVERDOSAGE Management of acute overdosage with carbidopa and levodopa extended-release is the same as with levodopa. Pyridoxine is not effective in reversing the actions of carbidopa and levodopa extended-release. General supportive measures should be employed, along with immediate gastric lavage.
Intravenous fluids should be administered judiciously and an adequate airway maintained. Electrocardiographic monitoring should be instituted and the patient carefully observed for the development of arrhythmias; if required, appropriate antiarrhythmic therapy should be given. The possibility that the patient may have taken other drugs as well as carbidopa and levodopa extended-release should be taken into consideration.
To date, no experience has been reported with dialysis; hence, its value in overdosage is not known. Based on studies in which high doses of levodopa and/or carbidopa were administered, a significant proportion of rats and mice given single oral doses of levodopa of approximately 1500-2000 mg/kg are expected to die. A significant proportion of infant rats of both sexes are expected to die at a dose of 800 mg/kg.
A significant proportion of rats are expected to die after treatment with similar doses of carbidopa. The addition of carbidopa in a 1:10 ratio with levodopa increases the dose at which a significant proportion of mice are expected to die to 3360 mg/kg.
🧬 Clinical Pharmacology ▾
CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY Mechanism of Action Parkinson’s disease is a progressive, neurodegenerative disorder of the extrapyramidal nervous system affecting the mobility and control of the skeletal muscular system. Its characteristic features include resting tremor, rigidity, and bradykinetic movements. Symptomatic treatments, such as levodopa therapies, may permit the patient better mobility.
Current evidence indicates that symptoms of Parkinson’s disease are related to depletion of dopamine in the corpus striatum. Administration of dopamine is ineffective in the treatment of Parkinson’s disease apparently because it does not cross the blood-brain barrier. However, levodopa, the metabolic precursor of dopamine, does cross the blood-brain barrier, and presumably is converted to dopamine in the brain.
This is thought to be the mechanism whereby levodopa relieves symptoms of Parkinson’s disease. Pharmacodynamics When levodopa is administered orally, it is rapidly decarboxylated to dopamine in extracerebral tissues so that only a small portion of a given dose is transported unchanged to the central nervous system. For this reason, large doses of levodopa are required for adequate therapeutic effect, and these may often be accompanied by nausea and other adverse reactions, some of which are attributable to dopamine formed in extracerebral tissues.
Since levodopa competes with certain amino acids for transport across the gut wall, the absorption of levodopa may be impaired in some patients on a high protein diet. Carbidopa inhibits decarboxylation of peripheral levodopa. It does not cross the blood-brain barrier and does not affect the metabolism of levodopa within the central nervous system.
Since its decarboxylase inhibiting activity is limited to extracerebral tissues, administration of carbidopa with levodopa makes more levodopa available for transport to the brain. Patients treated with levodopa therapy for Parkinson’s disease may develop motor fluctuations characterized by end-of-dose failure, peak dose dyskinesia, and akinesia. The advanced form of motor fluctuations (‘on-off’ phenomenon) is characterized by unpredictable swings from mobility to immobility.
Although the causes of the motor fluctuations are not completely understood, in some patients they may be attenuated by treatment regimens that produce steady plasma levels of levodopa. Carbidopa and levodopa extended-release tablets contain either 50 mg of carbidopa and 200 mg of levodopa, or 25 mg of carbidopa and 100 mg of levodopa in a sustained-release dosage form designed to release these ingredients over a 4- to 6-hour period. With carbidopa and levodopa extended-release there is less variation in plasma levodopa levels than with carbidopa and levodopa immediate-release, the conventional formulation.
However, carbidopa and levodopa extended-release is less systemically bioavailable than carbidopa and levodopa immediate-release and may require increased daily doses to achieve the same level of symptomatic relief as provided by carbidopa and levodopa immediate-release. In clinical trials, patients with moderate to severe motor fluctuations who received carbidopa and levodopa extended-release did not experience quantitatively significant reductions in ‘off’ time when compared to carbidopa and levodopa immediate-release.
However, global ratings of improvement as assessed by both patient and physician were better during therapy with carbidopa and levodopa extended-release than with carbidopa and levodopa immediate-release. In patients without motor fluctuations, carbidopa and levodopa extended-release, under controlled conditions, provided the same therapeutic benefit with less frequent dosing when compared to carbidopa and levodopa immediate-release. Pharmacokinetics Carbidopa reduces the amount of levodopa required to produce a given response by about 75% and, when administered with levodopa, increases both plasma levels and the plasma half-life of levodopa, and decrease…
🧬 Mechanism of Action ▾
Mechanism of Action Parkinson’s disease is a progressive, neurodegenerative disorder of the extrapyramidal nervous system affecting the mobility and control of the skeletal muscular system. Its characteristic features include resting tremor, rigidity, and bradykinetic movements. Symptomatic treatments, such as levodopa therapies, may permit the patient better mobility.
Current evidence indicates that symptoms of Parkinson’s disease are related to depletion of dopamine in the corpus striatum. Administration of dopamine is ineffective in the treatment of Parkinson’s disease apparently because it does not cross the blood-brain barrier. However, levodopa, the metabolic precursor of dopamine, does cross the blood-brain barrier, and presumably is converted to dopamine in the brain.
This is thought to be the mechanism whereby levodopa relieves symptoms of Parkinson’s disease.
📦 How Supplied / Storage and Handling ▾
HOW SUPPLIED Carbidopa and Levodopa Extended-Release Tablets, USP are available containing 25 mg of carbidopa, USP and 100 mg of levodopa, USP or 50 mg of carbidopa, USP and 200 mg of levodopa, USP. The 25 mg/100 mg tablets are purple, oval, unscored tablets debossed with MYLAN on one side of the tablet and 88 on the other side of the tablet. They are available as follows: NDC 0378-0088-01 bottles of 100 tablets The 50 mg/200 mg tablets are purple, oval, scored tablets debossed with MYLAN on one side of the tablet and 9 to the left of the score and 4 to the right of the score on the other side of the tablet.
They are available as follows: NDC 0378-0094-01 bottles of 100 tablets Storage and Handling Store at 25°C (77°F); excursions permitted to 15° to 30°C (59° to 86°F). [See USP Controlled Room Temperature.] Dispense in a tight, light resistant container as defined in the USP using a child-resistant closure. Keep container tightly closed. Distributed by: Mylan Pharmaceuticals Inc., a Viatris Company Morgantown, WV 26505 U.S.A.
Revised: 4/2026 ALP:CBLVER:R4
📋 Description ▾
DESCRIPTION Carbidopa and levodopa extended-release tablets, USP are an extended-release combination of carbidopa and levodopa for the treatment of Parkinson’s disease and syndrome. Carbidopa, USP, an inhibitor of aromatic amino acid decarboxylation, is a white to creamy white powder, slightly soluble in water, with a molecular weight of 244.24. It is designated chemically as (-)-L-α-Hydrazino-3,4-dihydroxy-α-methylhydrocinnamic acid monohydrate.
Its empirical formula is C 10 H 14 N 2 O 4 •H 2 O, and its structural formula is: Tablet content is expressed in terms of anhydrous carbidopa, which has a molecular weight of 226.23. Levodopa, USP, an aromatic amino acid, is a white to off-white crystalline powder, slightly soluble in water, with a molecular weight of 197.19. It is designated chemically as (-)-3-(3,4-Dihydroxyphenyl)-L-alanine.
Its empirical formula is C 9 H 11 NO 4 , and its structural formula is: Each extended-release tablet, for oral administration, contains either 25 mg of carbidopa and 100 mg of levodopa, or 50 mg of carbidopa and 200 mg of levodopa. In addition, each tablet contains the following inactive ingredients: FD&C Blue No. 2 Aluminum Lake, FD&C Red No.
40 Aluminum Lake, hydroxypropyl cellulose, hypromellose, and magnesium stearate. The 25 mg/100 mg tablets are purple, oval, unscored tablets debossed with MYLAN on one side of the tablet and 88 on the other side of the tablet. The 50 mg/200 mg tablets are purple, oval, scored tablets debossed with MYLAN on one side of the tablet and 9 to the left of the score and 4 to the right of the score on the other side of the tablet.
Carbidopa and levodopa extended-release tablets are designed in a drug delivery system that controls the release of carbidopa and levodopa as the tablets slowly erode. The 25 mg/100 mg carbidopa and levodopa extended-release tablet is available to facilitate titration and as an alternative to the half-tablet of 50 mg/200 mg carbidopa and levodopa extended-release. FDA approved dissolution test specifications differ from USP.
Carbidopa Structural Formula Levodopa Structural Formula
💬 Information for Patients ▾
Information for Patients The patient should be informed that carbidopa and levodopa extended-release tablets are a sustained-release formulation of carbidopa levodopa which releases these ingredients over a 4- to 6-hour period. It is important that carbidopa and levodopa extended-release be taken at regular intervals according to the schedule outlined by the physician. The patient should be cautioned not to change the prescribed dosage regimen and not to add any additional antiparkinson medications, including other carbidopa levodopa preparations, without first consulting the physician.
If abnormal involuntary movements appear or get worse during treatment with carbidopa and levodopa extended-release, the physician should be notified, as dosage adjustment may be necessary. Patients should be advised that sometimes the onset of effect of the first morning dose of carbidopa and levodopa extended-release may be delayed for up to 1 hour compared with the response usually obtained from the first morning dose of carbidopa and levodopa immediate-release. The physician should be notified if such delayed responses pose a problem in treatment.
Patients should be advised that, occasionally, dark color (red, brown, or black) may appear in saliva, urine, or sweat after ingestion of carbidopa and levodopa extended-release. Although the color appears to be clinically insignificant, garments may become discolored. The patient should be informed that a change in diet to foods that are high in protein may delay the absorption of levodopa and may reduce the amount taken up in the circulation.
Excessive acidity also delays stomach emptying, thus delaying the absorption of levodopa. Iron salts (such as in multivitamin tablets) may also reduce the amount of levodopa available to the body. The above factors may reduce the clinical effectiveness of the levodopa or carbidopa levodopa therapy.
Patients must be advised that the whole or half tablet should be swallowed without chewing or crushing. Patients should be alerted to the possibility of sudden onset of sleep during daily activities, in some cases without awareness or warning signs, when they are taking dopaminergic agents, including levodopa. Patients should be advised to exercise caution while driving or operating machinery and that if they have experienced somnolence and/or sudden sleep onset, they must refrain from these activities (see WARNINGS, Falling Asleep During Activities of Daily Living and Somnolence ).
There have been reports of patients experiencing intense urges to gamble, increased sexual urges, and other intense urges, and the inability to control these urges while taking one or more of the medications that increase central dopaminergic tone and that are generally used for the treatment of Parkinson’s disease, including carbidopa and levodopa extended-release. Although it is not proven that the medications caused these events, these urges were reported to have stopped in some cases when the dose was reduced or the medication was stopped.
Prescribers should ask patients about the development of new or increased gambling urges, sexual urges or other urges while being treated with carbidopa and levodopa extended-release. Patients should inform their physician if they experience new or increased gambling urges, increased sexual urges, or other intense urges while taking carbidopa and levodopa extended-release. Physicians should consider dose reduction or stopping the medication if a patient develops such urges while taking carbidopa and levodopa extended-release (see PRECAUTIONS, Impulse Control/Compulsive Behaviors ).
Inform patients that vitamin B 6 deficiency may develop during treatment with carbidopa/levodopa therapies, including carbidopa and levodopa extended-release. Tell patients to inform their healthcare provider if they develop symptoms such as depression, confusion, cheilosis, glossitis, dermatitis, anemia, neuropathy, and/or seizures (see WARNINGS, Vitamin B6 Deficienc…