What can replace a medication such as Levodopa / Benserazide? Analogs of this medication will be discussed at the end of the article. We will also present the pharmacological characteristics of this agent, its form of release, indications and methods of use.
Form, composition, packaging
The drug “Levodopa / Benserazid-Teva", the instruction of which is enclosed in a cardboard box, is available in the form of tablets, packaged in bottles of 30, 20, 60 or 50 pieces. The main substances of this drug are benserazide and levodopa. As for the additional components, they include: mannitol, calcium hydrogen phosphate (anhydrous), MCC, crospovidone, pregelatinized corn starch, colloidal silicon dioxide, povidone K25, magnesium stearate and iron dye red oxide.
Pharmacological characteristics
The drug "Levodopa / Benserazide" is a combined antiparkinsonian drug that includes an inhibitor of the decarboxylase (peripheral) aromatic L-amino acids and dopamine precursor.
In parkinsonism, dopamine is excreted from the basal nuclei in insufficient quantities. Its replacement is carried out by taking levodopa, which is a metabolic precursor of dopamine.
The largest part of this element in peripheral tissues is converted to dopamine, which does not take part in the antiparkinsonian effect, since it penetrates poorly through the BBB, and is also responsible for most adverse reactions.
Drug kinetics
How do specialists characterize the drug in question, or rather, its kinetic and technological process? Levodopa with benserazide is absorbed mainly in the small intestine. When taking the medicine inside, the peak of its concentration is reached after about 65 minutes.
It should be especially noted that the absorption of these elements depends on the indicators of intragastric pH, as well as on the rate of excretion of gastric contents.
When taking levodopa immediately after a meal, its highest plasma concentration is about 30% less, and the degree of absorption is 15% lower.
In large quantities, this drug is found in the small intestine, kidneys and liver. However, only 1% penetrates the brain.
The half-life of the drug in question is three hours.
Unlike levodopa, such a component of the drug as benserazide does not penetrate the BBB. This substance accumulates in the lung tissue, kidneys, liver and small intestine.
When is it prescribed?
The drug "Levodopa / Benserazide" is antiparkinsonian. Therefore, it is advisable to appoint it with:
- parkinsonism syndrome (an exception is the syndrome caused by taking antipsychotic drugs);
- Parkinson's disease;
- restless legs syndrome , including in people with chronic kidney failure who receive dialysis.
Prohibitions to use
Are there any contraindications for the drug “Levodopa / Benserazid-Teva” (reviews indicating their validity, we will consider below)? This drug should not be prescribed for:
- mental illness;
- hypersensitivity to the elements of the drug;
- severe violations in the endocrine system, as well as blood vessels and the heart;
- kidney and liver diseases, in addition to the development of restless legs syndrome with joint dialysis;
- lactation;
- angle-closure glaucoma;
- concomitant use of non-selective MAO inhibitors;
- pregnancy
- under the age of 25 years;
- in the reproductive age of the fairer sex, not using reliable methods of contraception.
"Levodopa / Benserazide": trade name, method of application
You can buy the medication in question at any pharmacy. The trade name for this drug is Levodopa / Benserazide-Teva.
At what dosage is the medication in question prescribed to patients? Treatment with this agent begins with a small dose, which is gradually increased (individually for each patient).
According to experts, high doses of this drug should be avoided. The dosage regimen below should be considered as a general recommendation.
Levodopa / Benserazide should be taken orally at least half an hour before or 65 minutes after a meal.
People who previously took this drug are recommended to use 12.5 / 50 mg of benserazide and levodopa four times a day at the very beginning of therapy. With good tolerability of the drug, this dosage is increased by the same amount every three days. Further dose selection is carried out with a frequency of 1 time in 30 days.
As a rule, the therapeutic effect after using this medication is already noted when taking 100 mg of benserazide and 400 mg of levodopa per day.
The highest dosage of this drug per day is 800/200 mg of levodopa and benserazide, respectively. The specified amount of medication should be divided into 4 or more receptions. Moreover, they should be distributed in such a way as to provide the patient with an optimal therapeutic effect.
With the development of adverse reactions, you should either stop increasing the dose, or reduce it.
Dosage regimen in special clinical cases
How should I take Levodopa / Benserazide? Reviews of experts report that patients experiencing strong motor fluctuations, the daily dose of this medication should be divided into more than 4 doses.
In old age, the dosage increase should be slower.
The experience of using the drug in adolescents and children is limited.
With liver and renal failure, dose adjustment of the drug is not required.
With the development of spontaneous movements, especially in the later stages of treatment, it is recommended to reduce the dosage. The same applies to undesirable consequences from the CCC.
Overdose Signs
Acceptance of high doses of the drug “Levodopa / Benserazide”, the synonyms of which will be presented below, can cause symptoms such as nausea, arrhythmia, involuntary movements of a pathological nature, insomnia, vomiting, confusion. It should also be noted that the development of such signs may be delayed due to the delayed absorption of the drug from the gastrointestinal tract.
For the treatment of the described conditions, symptomatic therapy is carried out (antiarrhythmic drugs, respiratory analeptics and antipsychotics are prescribed), and they also regularly monitor the vital functions of the body.
Interaction
The drug "Levodopa / Benserazide" interacts with other drugs as follows:
- Taking trihexyphenidyl reduces the speed, but not the degree of absorption of levodopa.
- Antihypertensive drugs, opioids, antipsychotics and drugs containing reserpine inhibit the effect of the described medication.
- Use with antacids helps to reduce the degree of absorption of the drug in question by 32%.
- Metoclopramide increases the absorption rate of levodopa.
- Taking pyridoxine reduces the antiparkinsonian effect of the drug.
- Levodopa and benserazide are not allowed to be used together with non-selective MAO inhibitors.
- The medication in question potentiates the action of sympathomimetics.
- Taking levodopa and benserazide with other anti-Parkinsonian drugs enhances the desired and undesirable effects.
Special information
Before you start taking Levodopa / Benserazide, you should undergo a complete medical examination. This is due to the fact that there are a number of diseases in which this agent should be used with extreme caution:
- In the presence of open-angle glaucoma, the course of therapy does not begin until the patient is completely cured.
- It is forbidden to abruptly cancel the drug "Halotan", as this can contribute to the development of antipsychotic malignant syndrome in general anesthesia.
It should also be noted that at the very beginning of taking the medication, the patient's physiological parameters may change. In this regard, during the treatment process, it is required to regularly take tests to monitor the normal functioning of all internal organs.
People with diabetes should check their blood glucose several times a day.
The cost of the drug and its analogues / synonyms
How much does a medication like Levodopa / Benserazide-Teva cost? The price of this medicine depends on the number of tablets in the package. As a rule, it varies between 600-1250 rubles.
What can replace the considered antiparkinsonian drug? The following agents are referred to its main analogues and synonyms: Zimox, Duelin, Izikom, Nakom, Dopar 275, Carbidopa / Levodopa, Sinemet, Sindopa, Tidomet, Tremonorm. " It should immediately be noted that the pharmacological features and methods of use of these drugs may differ significantly from the above. Therefore, replace them with “Levodopa / Benserazid-Teva” should only be recommended by a doctor.
Reviews on the effectiveness of the drug
It is no secret to anyone that Parkinson's disease is an extremely serious disease. In addition, this is a serious test for the patient and his loved ones.
According to the opinions of experts and consumers, during treatment, this medication acts on all patients differently. Sometimes even under the strict supervision of a doctor with prolonged use of tablets in sick people, increased irritability and attacks of aggression are observed. Adverse reactions also occur in the form of hallucinations and dizziness.
With a decrease in dosage in some patients, the symptoms of mental disorders disappear, while the motor function is not impaired. However, in other patients, even after the drug is completely discontinued, all mental disorders persist. In addition, their motor function is significantly impaired.
In connection with all of the above, we can safely conclude that when taking the drug in question, you must be prepared for the development of severe side effects, which were mentioned above.
According to experts, the treatment process with an antiparkinsonian drug should take place only under the strict supervision of a doctor. This will allow you to track even the smallest changes in the patient’s condition from the side of the cardiovascular system and psyche, and, if necessary, to react in a timely manner.