Sinemet 25 MG / 100 MG Oral Tablet

Generic Name: CARBIDOPA AND LEVODOPA
Brand Name: SINEMET
  • Substance Name(s):
  • CARBIDOPA
  • LEVODOPA

WARNINGS

When SINEMET is to be given to patients who are being treated with levodopa, levodopa must be discontinued at least twelve hours before therapy with SINEMET is started.

In order to reduce adverse reactions, it is necessary to individualize therapy.

See DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION section before initiating therapy.

The addition of carbidopa with levodopa in the form of SINEMET reduces the peripheral effects (nausea, vomiting) due to decarboxylation of levodopa; however, carbidopa does not decrease the adverse reactions due to the central effects of levodopa.

Because carbidopa permits more levodopa to reach the brain and more dopamine to be formed, certain adverse central nervous system (CNS) effects, e.g., dyskinesias (involuntary movements), may occur at lower dosages and sooner with SINEMET than with levodopa alone.

All patients should be observed carefully for the development of depression with concomitant suicidal tendencies.

SINEMET 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 SINEMET 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 SINEMET may increase the possibility of upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage in patients with a history of peptic ulcer.

Falling Asleep During Activities of Daily Living and Somnolence Patients taking SINEMET 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 pre-existing somnolence, although some patients may not give such a history.

For this reason, prescribers should reassess patients for drowsiness or sleepiness especially since some of the events occur well after the start of treatment.

Prescribers should be aware that patients may not acknowledge drowsiness or sleepiness until directly questioned about drowsiness or sleepiness during specific activities.

Patients should be advised to exercise caution while driving or operating machines during treatment with SINEMET.

Patients who have already experienced somnolence or an episode of sudden sleep onset should not participate in these activities during treatment with SINEMET.

Before initiating treatment with SINEMET, advise patients about the potential to develop drowsiness and ask specifically about factors that may increase the risk for somnolence with SINEMET such as the use of concomitant sedating medications and the presence of sleep disorders.

Consider discontinuing SINEMET in patients who report significant daytime sleepiness or episodes of falling asleep during activities that require active participation (e.g., conversations, eating, etc.).

If treatment with SINEMET continues, patients should be advised not to drive and to avoid other potentially dangerous activities that might result in harm if the patients become somnolent.

There is insufficient information to establish that dose reduction will eliminate episodes of falling asleep while engaged in activities of daily living.

Hyperpyrexia and Confusion Sporadic cases of a symptom complex resembling neuroleptic malignant syndrome (NMS) have been reported in association with dose reductions or withdrawal of certain antiparkinsonian agents such as levodopa, carbidopa and levodopa, or carbidopa and levodopa extended release.

Therefore, patients should be observed carefully when the dosage of levodopa is reduced abruptly or discontinued, especially if the patient is receiving neuroleptics.

NMS is an uncommon but life-threatening syndrome characterized by fever or hyperthermia.

Neurological findings, including muscle rigidity, involuntary movements, altered consciousness, mental status changes; other disturbances, such as autonomic dysfunction, tachycardia, tachypnea, sweating, hyper- or hypotension; laboratory findings, such as creatine phosphokinase elevation, leukocytosis, myoglobinuria, and increased serum myoglobin have been reported.

The early diagnosis of this condition is important for the appropriate management of these patients.

Considering NMS as a possible diagnosis and ruling out other acute illnesses (e.g., pneumonia, systemic infection, etc.) is essential.

This may be especially complex if the clinical presentation includes both serious medical illness and untreated or inadequately treated extrapyramidal signs and symptoms (EPS).

Other important considerations in the differential diagnosis include central anticholinergic toxicity, heat stroke, drug fever, and primary central nervous system (CNS) pathology.

The management of NMS should include: 1) intensive symptomatic treatment and medical monitoring and 2) treatment of any concomitant serious medical problems for which specific treatments are available.

Dopamine agonists, such as bromocriptine, and muscle relaxants, such as dantrolene, are often used in the treatment of NMS; however, their effectiveness has not been demonstrated in controlled studies.

DRUG INTERACTIONS

Drug Interactions Caution should be exercised when the following drugs are administered concomitantly with SINEMET.

Symptomatic postural hypotension occurred when SINEMET was added to the treatment of a patient receiving antihypertensive drugs.

Therefore, when therapy with SINEMET 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 and levodopa may be associated with severe orthostatic hypotension not attributable to carbidopa and 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 SINEMET.

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 SINEMET should be carefully observed for loss of therapeutic response.

Use of SINEMET with dopamine-depleting agents (e.g., reserpine and tetrabenazine) or other drugs known to deplete monoamine stores is not recommended.

SINEMET 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.

OVERDOSAGE

Management of acute overdosage with SINEMET is the same as management of acute overdosage with levodopa.

Pyridoxine is not effective in reversing the actions of SINEMET.

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 SINEMET 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.

DESCRIPTION

SINEMET ® (carbidopa and levodopa) is a combination of carbidopa and levodopa for the treatment of Parkinson’s disease and syndrome.

Carbidopa, an inhibitor of aromatic amino acid decarboxylation, is a white, crystalline compound, slightly soluble in water, with a molecular weight of 244.3.

It is designated chemically as (—)-L-α-hydrazino-α-methyl-β-(3,4-dihydroxybenzene) propanoic 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 226.3.

Levodopa, an aromatic amino acid, is a white, crystalline compound, slightly soluble in water, with a molecular weight of 197.2.

It is designated chemically as (—)-L-α-amino-β-(3,4-dihydroxybenzene) propanoic acid.

Its empirical formula is C 9 H 11 NO 4 , and its structural formula is: SINEMET is supplied as tablets in three strengths: SINEMET 25-100, containing 25 mg of carbidopa and 100 mg of levodopa.

SINEMET 10-100, containing 10 mg of carbidopa and 100 mg of levodopa.

SINEMET 25-250, containing 25 mg of carbidopa and 250 mg of levodopa.

Inactive ingredients for product manufactured by Mylan Pharmaceuticals Inc.

are hydroxypropyl cellulose, pregelatinized starch, crospovidone, microcrystalline cellulose, and magnesium stearate.

SINEMET 10-100 and 25-250 Tablets also contain FD&C Blue #2/Indigo Carmine AL.

SINEMET 25-100 Tablets also contain D&C Yellow #10 Lake.

Inactive ingredients for product manufactured by Savio Industrial S.r.L are microcrystalline cellulose, pregelatinized starch, starch (corn), and magnesium stearate.

SINEMET 10-100 and 25-250 Tablets also contain FD&C Blue #2.

SINEMET 25-100 Tablets also contain D&C Yellow #10.

image of carbidopa chemical structure image of levodopa chemical structure

HOW SUPPLIED

For SINEMET Manufactured by Mylan No.

3916A — SINEMET 25-100 Tablets are yellow, round, uncoated tablets, that are coded “650” on one side and plain on the other.

They are supplied as follows: NDC 0006-3916-68 bottles of 100.

No.

3915 — SINEMET 10-100 Tablets are light dapple-blue, round, uncoated tablets, that are coded “647” on one side and plain on the other.

They are supplied as follows: NDC 0006-3915-68 bottles of 100.

No.

3917 — SINEMET 25-250 Tablets are light dapple-blue, round, uncoated tablets, that are coded “654” on one side and plain on the other.

They are supplied as follows: NDC 0006-3917-68 bottles of 100.

For SINEMET Manufactured by Savio No.

6724 — SINEMET 25-100 Tablets are yellow oval tablets that are plain on one side, with “650” and a score line on the other.

They are supplied as follows: NDC 0006-6724-68 bottles of 100.

No.

6722 — SINEMET 10-100 Tablets are dark dapple-blue oval tablets that are plain on one side, with “647” and a score line on the other.

They are supplied as follows: NDC 0006-6722-68 bottles of 100.

No.

6723 — SINEMET 25-250 Tablets are light dapple-blue oval tablets that are plain on one side, with “654” and a score line on the other.

They are supplied as follows: NDC 0006-6723-68 bottles of 100.

Storage and Handling Store at 25°C (77°F), excursions permitted to 15-30°C (59-86°F) [see USP Controlled Room Temperature].

Store in a tightly closed container, protected from light and moisture.

Dispense in a tightly closed, light-resistant container.

GERIATRIC USE

Geriatric Use In the clinical efficacy trials for SINEMET, 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 SINEMET is titrated as tolerated for clinical effect.

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.

INDICATIONS AND USAGE

SINEMET is indicated in the treatment of Parkinson’s disease, post-encephalitic parkinsonism, and symptomatic parkinsonism that may follow carbon monoxide intoxication or manganese intoxication.

Carbidopa allows patients treated for Parkinson’s disease to use much lower doses of levodopa.

Some patients who responded poorly to levodopa have improved on SINEMET.

This is most likely due to decreased peripheral decarboxylation of levodopa caused by administration of carbidopa rather than by a primary effect of carbidopa on the nervous system.

Carbidopa has not been shown to enhance the intrinsic efficacy of levodopa.

Carbidopa may also reduce nausea and vomiting and permit more rapid titration of levodopa.

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.

PREGNANCY

Pregnancy No teratogenic effects were observed in a study in mice receiving up to 20 times the maximum recommended human dose of SINEMET.

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.

SINEMET 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 SINEMET in women of childbearing potential requires that the anticipated benefits of the drug be weighed against possible hazards to mother and child.

NUSRING MOTHERS

Nursing Mothers Levodopa has been detected in human milk.

Caution should be exercised when SINEMET is administered to a nursing woman.

INFORMATION FOR PATIENTS

Information for Patients The patient should be informed that SINEMET is an immediate-release formulation of carbidopa and levodopa that is designed to begin release of ingredients within 30 minutes.

It is important that SINEMET 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 and levodopa preparations, without first consulting the physician.

Patients should be advised that sometimes a ‘wearing-off’ effect may occur at the end of the dosing interval.

The physician should be notified if such response poses a problem to lifestyle.

Patients should be advised that occasionally, dark color (red, brown, or black) may appear in saliva, urine, or sweat after ingestion of SINEMET.

Although the color appears to be clinically insignificant, garments may become discolored.

The patient should be advised 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 and levodopa therapy.

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 SINEMET.

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 SINEMET.

Patients should inform their physician if they experience new or increased gambling urges, increased sexual urges, or other intense urges while taking SINEMET.

Physicians should consider dose reduction or stopping the medication if a patient develops such urges while taking SINEMET (See PRECAUTIONS, Impulse Control / Compulsive Behaviors ).

DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION

The optimum daily dosage of SINEMET must be determined by careful titration in each patient.

SINEMET tablets are available in a 1:4 ratio of carbidopa to levodopa (SINEMET 25-100) as well as 1:10 ratio (SINEMET 25-250 and SINEMET 10-100).

Tablets of the two ratios may be given separately or combined as needed to provide the optimum dosage.

Studies show that peripheral dopa decarboxylase is saturated by carbidopa at approximately 70 to 100 mg a day.

Patients receiving less than this amount of carbidopa are more likely to experience nausea and vomiting.

Usual Initial Dosage Dosage is best initiated with one tablet of SINEMET 25-100 three times a day.

This dosage schedule provides 75 mg of carbidopa per day.

Dosage may be increased by one tablet every day or every other day, as necessary, until a dosage of eight tablets of SINEMET 25-100 a day is reached.

If SINEMET 10-100 is used, dosage may be initiated with one tablet three or four times a day.

However, this will not provide an adequate amount of carbidopa for many patients.

Dosage may be increased by one tablet every day or every other day until a total of eight tablets (2 tablets q.i.d.) is reached.

How to Transfer Patients from Levodopa Levodopa must be discontinued at least twelve hours before starting SINEMET.

A daily dosage of SINEMET should be chosen that will provide approximately 25% of the previous levodopa dosage.

Patients who are taking less than 1500 mg of levodopa a day should be started on one tablet of SINEMET 25-100 three or four times a day.

The suggested starting dosage for most patients taking more than 1500 mg of levodopa is one tablet of SINEMET 25-250 three or four times a day.

Maintenance Therapy should be individualized and adjusted according to the desired therapeutic response.

At least 70 to 100 mg of carbidopa per day should be provided.

When a greater proportion of carbidopa is required, one tablet of SINEMET 25-100 may be substituted for each tablet of SINEMET 10-100.

When more levodopa is required, SINEMET 25-250 should be substituted for SINEMET 25-100 or SINEMET 10-100.

If necessary, the dosage of carbidopa and levodopa 25-250 may be increased by one-half or one tablet every day or every other day to a maximum of eight tablets a day.

Experience with total daily dosages of carbidopa greater than 200 mg is limited.

Because both therapeutic and adverse responses occur more rapidly with SINEMET than with levodopa alone, patients should be monitored closely during the dose adjustment period.

Specifically, involuntary movements will occur more rapidly with SINEMET 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.

Addition of Other Antiparkinsonian Medications Standard drugs for Parkinson’s disease, other than levodopa without a decarboxylase inhibitor, may be used concomitantly while SINEMET is being administered, although dosage adjustments may be required.

Interruption of Therapy Sporadic cases of hyperpyrexia and confusion have been associated with dose reductions and withdrawal of SINEMET.

Patients should be observed carefully if abrupt reduction or discontinuation of SINEMET is required, especially if the patient is receiving neuroleptics.

(See WARNINGS .) If general anesthesia is required, SINEMET may be continued as long as the patient is permitted to take fluids and medication by mouth.

If therapy is interrupted temporarily, the patient should be observed for symptoms resembling NMS, and the usual daily dosage may be administered as soon as the patient is able to take oral medication.