Madopar capsules contain two medicines called levodopa and benserazide. They are used to treat Parkinson’s disease.

Why have I been prescribed Madopar?

  • Madopar capsules contain two medicines called levodopa and benserazide.
  • They are used to treat Parkinson’s disease.

How does it work?

  • In your body the levodopa is changed into dopamine.
  • Dopamine is the active medicine that is needed in your brain to help Parkinson’s disease.
  • The benserazide allows more of the levodopa you take to get into your brain, before it is changed into dopamine.

When and how do I take it?

  • Swallow the capsules whole with a little water (do not crush or chew them). Madopar Dispersible tablets can be dissolved in water.
  • Take them with or just after food.

What’s the dose?

The dose will depend on whether or not you have had levodopa therapy before and will change over time.

Could it interact with other tablets?

Please tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking or have recently taken any other medicines. This includes medicines that you buy without a prescription and herbal medicines. This is because Madopar can affect the way some medicines work. Also some other medicines can affect the way Madopar works.

Do not take Madopar if you have taken a medicine for depression called a ‘non-selective monoamine oxidase inhibitor’ (MAOI) in the last 14 days. These medicines include isocarboxazid and phenelzine. If this applies to you, do not take Madopar and ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice.

In particular, tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking the following medicines:

  • Other medicines for Parkinson’s disease, such as amantadine, ‘anticholinergics’ called orphenadrine and benzhexol, ‘dopamine agonists’ called pergolide and ropinirole and a ‘COMT inhibitor’ called entacaprone.
  • Ferrous sulphate (used to treat low levels of iron in the blood).
  • Antacids (used for stomach acid if you have indigestion).
  • Metoclopramide (used to treat problems with digestion).
  • Phenothiazines - such as chlorpromazine, promazine and prochloroperazine (used to treat mental illness).
  • Thioxanthenes - such as flupentixol and zuclopenthixol (used to treat mental illness).
  • Butyrophenones - such as haloperidol and benperidol (used to treat mental illness).
  • Tetrabenazine (used to help problems controlling your muscle movement).
  • Papaverine (used to improve blood flow around the body).
  • Treatment for high blood pressure (hypertension), in particular reserpine.
  • ‘Sympathomimetics’ – such as epinephrine, norepinephrine and isoproterenol (used to treat problems with your heart or asthma).
  • Amphetamines - medicines used for attention deficit disorder, feeling sleepy during the day (narcolepsy) or to help control appetite and weight gain.

What are the possible risks or side-effects?

Like all medicines Madopar can cause side effects, although not everyone will get them.

Stomach and gut:

  • Loss of appetite, feeling sick or being sick or diarrhoea, particularly at the start of your treatment.
  • Bleeding in your stomach or intestines. You may see blood in your stools (they may look black and tarry) or blood when you are sick (this may look like coffee grounds).

Skin:

Heart and circulation:

  • Heart beat may be uneven or go faster or slower.
  • Feeling dizzy when you stand up. This usually gets better if your dose is lowered.

Blood:

  • Low numbers of red blood cells (anaemia). The signs include feeling tired, pale skin, palpitations (a fluttering sensation in your heart) and being short of breath.
  • Low numbers of all types of white blood cells. The signs include infections of your mouth, gums, throat and lungs.
  • Low numbers of platelets in your blood. The signs include bruising easily and nose bleeds.
  • Changes to your liver or blood - shown in a blood test.

Mental problems:

  • Feeling excited, anxious, agitated, depressed, aggressive or disorientated (the feeling of being lost).
  • Believing things which are not true, hallucinations (seeing and possibly hearing things that are not really there) or losing contact with reality.
  • Feeling sleepy, sometimes during the daytime.
  • Falling asleep suddenly.
  • Having difficulty sleeping.
  • Being unable to stop gambling even if this causes serious personal or family problems.
  • An increase in your levels of sexual desire or sex drive (libido) which may be worrying to you or to others.

Others:

  • Unusual movements of different parts of your body which you cannot control. This may affect your hands, feet, face or tongue. Your doctor may change your dose of Madopar to help with these effects.
  • Changes to how things taste or a loss of taste.
  • Redness of the face or neck.
  • Sweating.
  • Your urine (water) may become slightly red. This is not a cause for concern. It is caused by your body getting rid of the medicine.

If any of the side effects become serious or troublesome, or if you notice any side effects not listed in this leaflet, please tell your doctor or pharmacist.

Can I drink alcohol while taking it?

  • There are no known interactions between alcohol and Madopar.
  • Always ask your pharmacist/doctor however as other tablets you are taking may have a bearing on whether you can drink alcohol or not.

What if I’m pregnant/breastfeeding?

  • Do not take Madopar if you are pregnant, trying to get pregnant or breast-feeding. This is because Madopar
  • may affect your baby. It is important for women to use contraception while taking the medicine.
  • If you get pregnant while taking Madopar, talk to your doctor straight away.

 

If you have any more questions please ask your Pharmacist.

Remember to keep all medicines out of reach of children
Please Note:
We have made every effort to ensure that the content of this information sheet is correct at time of publish, but remember that information about drugs may change. This sheet does not list all the uses and side-effects associated with this drug. For full details please see the drug information leaflet which comes with your medicine. Your doctor will assess your medical circumstances and draw your attention to any information or side-effects which may be relevant in your particular case.

References:

http://patient.info/medicine/co-beneldopa-for-parkinsons-disease-madopar

https://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/medicine/3212

http://medsafe.govt.nz/profs/Datasheet/m/Madoparcapdisptab.pdf

http://www.news-medical.net/drugs/Madopar.aspx

http://www.netdoctor.co.uk/medicines/brain-and-nervous-system/a7053/madopar/


 

Health Reference: Parkinson's disease