This article addresses some common questions about MADOPAR.
It does not contain all available information and is not intended to replace your doctor, who knows you better and knows how to take care of you.
All medications have both unwanted effects and benefits. If you have any questions or doubts about this medicine, consult your doctor or pharmacist.
What is MADOPAR used for?
MADOPAR contains two active ingredients called levodopa and benserazide.
It belongs to a group of medicines called antiparkinsonian agents and is used for the treatment of Parkinson's disease.
Antiparkinsonian agents work on the central nervous system. The symptoms of Parkinson's are caused by a deficiency of a brain chemical called dopamine. MADOPAR helps to correct this deficiency.
By improving muscle control, MADOPAR enables more normal body movements.
The symptoms of patients with Parkinson's can be reduced by taking this medicine.
However, MADOPAR does not cure the disease, as it does not address the cause of the dopamine deficiency in the brain.
However, your doctor may have prescribed it for other purposes-ask your doctor about why it was prescribed.
You can buy this medicine only if you have a prescription from your doctor.
Before taking MADOPAR
Do not take it if you have an allergy to:
- Any medication containing levodopa or benserazide
- Any of the ingredients listed in the medicine's package insert
Some of the symptoms of an allergic reaction may include:
- breathlessness
- shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
- Swelling of the face, lips, tongue or other parts of the body
- rash, itching or hives on the skin
Do not take it if:
- you have taken a non-selective monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAO-I) such as phenylzine or tranylcypromine in the past 2 weeks
- you have taken a combination of an MAO-A inhibitor, such as moclobemide, with an MAO-B inhibitor, such as selegiline or rasagiline.
- Have heart, liver, kidney, lung, blood or endocrine (hormonal) diseases
- you have narrow glaucoma (high pressure in the eye)
- You are being treated for severe mental illness (active psychosis or severe psychoneurosis)
- you have melanoma or suspected melanoma
- you are under 30 years old
- you are being treated for Huntington's chorea or intentional tremor
Do not take MADOPAR after the expiration date (EXP) printed on the package or if the package is torn or shows signs of tampering.
If you take this medicine after the expiration date, it may not work as well.
If you are not sure whether you should/can take MADOPAR, talk to your doctor.
You must inform your doctor if:
- You are allergic to any other medicine, food, dyes or preservatives
- you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant
- you are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed
- are you planning to have surgery
- Have other health problems including:
- seizures
- diabetes
- stomach ulcers
- Feeling down (depression) or other psychological disorders
- osteoporosis or osteomalacia
- irregular heartbeat
- Wide-angle glaucoma (high pressure in the eye)
- any compulsive behavior disorder
- onset of sudden sleep disturbances
- other diseases.
Your doctor will discuss with you any risks of taking MADOPAR during pregnancy or breastfeeding.
If you have not yet told your doctor about this, do so before you start taking MADOPAR.
When taken with certain foods The MADOPARmay not have the same effect if taken with a protein-rich meal (e.g., meat).
Taking other medications
Tell your doctor if you are taking other medicines or supplements, even if you bought them without a prescription at a pharmacy, supermarket, or health food store.
SOME MEDICINES AND MADOPAR MAY INTERFERE WITH EACH OTHER.
These drugs include:
- Sympathomimetics such as cough and cold medicines containing ephedrine or pseudoephedrine, adrenaline, norepinephrine, isoprenaline, dexamphetamine, asthma preparations, Epi-pens
- Drugs that lower blood pressure such as metoprolol, atenolol
- Other antiparkinsonian drugs such as anticholinergics, amantadine, selegiline, bromocriptine, and dopamine agonists
- iron-containing medicines
- Nausea relief drugs such as metoclopramide
- Some drugs used to treat mental illness, particularly phenothiazine, tricyclic antidepressants and butyrophenone derivatives such as chlorpromazine, fluphenazine, prochlorperazine, thioridazine, haloperidol or Trifluoperazine
- General anesthetics, particularly cyclopropane and halothane. If you know you are about to have surgery, you should stop MADOPAR 2-3 days in advance. You should discuss this with your doctor first.
- Opiates such as morphine, pethidine, methadone, and codeine (may be present in some cough medicines and cold golden bread)
- Antacids (drugs for heartburn, indigestion) should not be taken at the same time as MADOPAR HBS, as they interfere with the controlled release of Madopar HBS. Antacids can be taken at other times of the day.
Taking these medicines may be affecting the effectiveness of MADOPAR or vice versa MADOPAR may be affecting the effectiveness of the medicines mentioned above. You may need to change doses or switch medications in order to maintain effectiveness.
Your doctor or pharmacist has more information about which drugs to avoid or which to be careful about while taking the medication.
If you have not yet spoken to your doctor, do so before you start taking the medication.
Ask your doctor or pharmacist if you have concerns about the medications on this list.
How to take MADOPAR
Follow your doctor's or pharmacist's instructions carefully. This may vary from the information in this sheet.
HOW MUCH TO TAKE ON
Your doctor will tell you exactly how many tablets or capsules you should take each day.
The dose depends on the patient's symptoms and response to the medication. The dose of should be adjusted for each person. If you take too little MADOPAR you will not be able to control your symptoms.
If you take too much, you may experience side effects. It may take several weeks before the dose that is right for you is reached.
Remember that this is only a guide.
Treatment with MADOPAR is usually started with low doses, which can be increased each week until the right amount is reached. Your doctor will decide which dose is best for you.
Do not stop taking it without first discussing it with your doctor.
MADOPAR HBS capsules (slow release)
MADOPAR HBS Is different from other MADOPAR products. It takes longer to take effect but its window of action is longer.
If you switch from regular MADOPAR to MADOPAR HBS, start with the same number of capsules or tablets, the doctor will then increase the dose slowly.
Some people who switch to MADOPAR HBS capsules may worsen slightly at first. The worsening should only be temporary, but talk to your doctor if something is bothering you.
When you take MADOPAR HBS, your doctor may tell you to take one MADOPAR tablet or one MADOPAR Rapida (dispersible) tablet in the morning to help you better control your symptoms.
HOW TO HIRE IT.
MADOPAR capsules
Capsules or tablets should be swallowed with a glass of water or a nonalcoholic beverage.
HBS MADOPAR capsules
MADOPAR HBS capsules should be swallowed whole and not chewed, opened or dissolved in liquid.
MADOPAR Rapid tablets (dispersible)
Rapid tablets are intended for people who have difficulty swallowing whole tablets or those who need the medicine to work quickly. They can be dissolved in at least 25-50 ml of water. The tablets dissolve completely in a few minutes giving a milky-looking liquid that you should drink within 30 minutes. Remember to mix the liquid immediately before taking.
MADOPAR Tablets
Tablets may be broken along the line. Tablets that do not break cleanly along the line should not be taken. Do not chew capsules or tablets.
WHEN TO TAKE IT
If possible, it should be taken 30 minutes before a meal or one hour after a meal. However, some patients prefer to take it with food.
If you have stomach upset that may occur after a short time of taking MADOPAR, try taking it with a small snack (e.g., a cookie). If anything is bothering you talk to your doctor.
HOW LONG TO HIRE MADOPAR
When you start taking it you should take it forever. You may need at least 6 months before you decide if it is the right medication for you.
Continue taking ituntil your doctor tells you to stop.
IF YOU FORGET TO TAKE IT
If it is almost time for the next dose, skip the dose and take the next dose.
Otherwise, take it as soon as you remember and then continue the therapy normally
Do not take a double dose to make up for the one you forgot. This may increase the chance of getting unwanted side effects.
If you have difficulty remembering to take the medication, ask the pharmacist for some advice. If you are not sure what to do, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
IN CASE OF OVERDOSE
If you think you or anyone else has taken too much, please contact the Poison Information Center (there is no national number; you can check the number of the center nearest you at following link) for advice or an emergency at the nearest hospital.
Do this even if there are no signs of discomfort or poisoning. Urgent medical attention may be needed.
Keep emergency numbers handy. If you take an overdose of MADOPAR, it may be more serious.
While taking MADOPAR
Things you need to do
If you have surgery, tell the surgeon or anesthesiologist that you are taking this medication.
Inform your doctor if you become pregnant while taking MADOPAR.
Inform your doctor if, for any reason, you did not take the medicine exactly as prescribed. Otherwise, the doctor may think it was not effective and change the treatment unnecessarily.
Inform the doctor if you feel the medication is not affecting his or her condition.
Tell your doctor if you are suffering from insomnia or conversely, if you get a few bouts of sleepiness during the day.
Be sure to keep all doctor's appointments so that your progress can be monitored.
Your doctor may want to perform regular examinations while you are taking this medication.
Things you must not do
Do not stop taking MADOPAR or change the dose with your doctor.
Do not run out of medicine on weekends or holidays.
Do not give the drug to anyone else even if they have the same condition as you.
Do not use the drug to treat other conditions unless your doctor tells you to do so.
Do not take other medications without first talking to your doctor, even if a prescription is not required.
Things to watch out for
Beware of driving or operating dangerous machinery until you know how this drug acts on you; it is related to excessive sleepiness and very rarely is excessive sleepiness associated with daytime sleep attacks.
Inform your doctor if you experience these effects so that they can be resolved.
Side effects
Inform your doctor or pharmacist as soon as possible if you do not feel well while taking the medication, the MADOPAR helps most people with the Parkinson's disease But it may have undesirable effects on some people.
All medicines can have side effects. Sometimes they are serious, but most of the time they are not. Medical intervention may be needed if some of the side effects occur.
Do not be alarmed by the following list of side effects. You may have none.
Ask your doctor or pharmacist about any concerns you may have.
Inform your doctor if you notice any of the following symptoms:
- Abnormal involuntary movements of the body. These are usually caused if the dose is too high and will decrease when the dose is reduced
- Mental changes including paranoia, depression, mania, agitation, and hallucinations (seeing, hearing, or feeling things that are not there)
- fluctuations in the effect known as freezing or Freezing episodes. These can be resolved by asking the doctor to adjust the dose of the drug
- nausea and vomiting
- loss of appetite
- weight gain
- constipation
- rash or itching
- Confusion, fatigue, insomnia or sudden onset of sleep episodes
- poor muscle tone, hiccups
- restlessness
- water retention, cramping
Above are common, especially if you have just started taking MADOPAR.
- Changes in sexual desire or hypersexuality
- Signs of compulsive behavior (performing a repetitive, purposeless activity)
- loss of taste
- your urine, mouth, saliva, tongue and teeth may be darker with a red tinge
- Appearance of bleeding or bruising more easily
- Frequent infections such as fever, severe chills
- sore throat or mouth ulcers
Inform your doctor as soon as possible if you notice any of the following symptoms:
- Palpitations or changes in rhythm or heartbeat, chest bread, dizziness while standing
- diarrhea
- confusion
These can be serious side effects, and the doctor may need to change the dose.
This is not a complete list of all possible side effects. Others may occur in some people and there may be some side effects not yet known.
Tell your doctor if you notice anything else that makes you sick, even if it is not on this list.
Ask your doctor or pharmacist if you do not understand anything on this list.
After taking MADOPAR
Conservation
- Keep the capsules or tablets in the bottle, with the cap tightly closed, until it is time to take them.
- If you remove the capsules or tablets from the bottle, or the cap is loose, they may not keep well.
- Store dry capsules and tablets in a dry place where the temperature remains below 25°C.
- Do not store it in a bathroom or near a sink.Do not leave it in the car or on window sills.Heat and moisture can destroy medicines.
- Keep where children cannot reach it.
- A locked cabinet at least five feet above the ground is a good place to store medicines.
Disposal
If your doctor tells you to stop taking MADOPAR, or if the tablets/capsules have passed their expiration date, ask the pharmacist what to do with the residue.
Italiano
Français
Deutsch
English