Sinemet
Sinemet is carbidopa with levodopa in 10/100mg, 25/100mg and 25/250mg tablets for Parkinson's disease, easing tremor, stiffness and slowness of movement.
All strengths and pack prices
| Strength | Pack | Price | Per tablet |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10/100mg | 30 tablets | $32.10 | $1.07 |
| 10/100mg | 60 tablets | $53.40 | $0.89 |
| 10/100mg | 90 tablets | $70.20 | $0.78 |
| 10/100mg | 120 tablets | $84.00 | $0.70 |
| 10/100mg | 180 tablets | $111.60 | $0.62 |
| 10/100mg | 360 tablets | $205.20 | $0.57 |
| 25/100mg | 30 tablets | $42.60 | $1.42 |
| 25/100mg | 60 tablets | $69.00 | $1.15 |
| 25/100mg | 90 tablets | $89.10 | $0.99 |
| 25/100mg | 120 tablets | $108.00 | $0.90 |
| 25/100mg | 180 tablets | $142.20 | $0.79 |
| 25/100mg | 360 tablets | $255.60 | $0.71 |
| 25/250mg | 30 tablets | $45.00 | $1.50 |
| 25/250mg | 60 tablets | $79.20 | $1.32 |
| 25/250mg | 90 tablets | $107.10 | $1.19 |
| 25/250mg | 120 tablets | $129.60 | $1.08 |
| 25/250mg | 180 tablets | $165.60 | $0.92 |
| 25/250mg | 360 tablets | $291.60 | $0.81 |
Details
- Conditions
- Parkinson's disease
- Brands with the same ingredient
- Carbidopa/Levodopa
- Therapeutic Class
- Dopamine precursor
- Pharmacological Class
- Antiparkinsonian
- Minor Side Effects
- Nausea, dizziness
- Moderate Side Effects
- Confusion, involuntary movements
- Dosage Forms
- Tablet
- Administration Route
- Oral
- Originator
- Merck
- Onset Time
- 30–60 minutes
- Duration
- 4–6 hours
- Storage Instructions
- Store in a dry, cool place.
- Drug Interactions
- MAO inhibitors
What you will receive
Sinemet is the originator brand name, made by Merck. We use it to identify the medicine; the pack you receive is a generic equivalent, not the original Sinemet.
- The same active ingredient (Carbidopa / Levodopa) at the same strength.
- The exact brand supplied depends on what is in stock when your order ships.
FAQ
Which Sinemet strengths and pack sizes can I order?
Sinemet is offered as generic carbidopa + levodopa, not the original Sinemet, in 10/100mg, 25/100mg and 25/250mg tablets. Packs run from 30 to 360 tablets. Larger packs cost less per tablet.
How can I pay for Sinemet and cancel an order?
Generic carbidopa + levodopa can be paid for by Visa, Mastercard or American Express on a secure, encrypted page, or with Bitcoin or Ethereum, and your card details never reach the shop's servers. If you need to cancel, there is a 24-hour window before the order is dispatched.
What other names is carbidopa and levodopa sold under?
Sinemet is a brand name of carbidopa and levodopa, which are also sold as Duodopa and Syndopa. Here, carbidopa and levodopa can be bought online as generic Sinemet, and also as carbidopa and levodopa tablets. These are generics, not the original brand.
How long does Sinemet take to work?
Not straight away. Doses start small and are raised over the first weeks, and the full benefit of carbidopa with levodopa can take several months to show.
Should I take Sinemet with food?
Either way works. A heavy, fatty meal can delay a dose, and a very protein-rich meal can reduce how much levodopa is absorbed, so some people spread protein evenly through the day instead of eating one large meat meal.
How does Sinemet differ from Stalevo?
Both contain levodopa with carbidopa. Stalevo adds a third ingredient, entacapone, which blocks the COMT enzyme that breaks levodopa down, so each dose lasts longer and fewer tablets are needed. Sinemet has no entacapone.
What do the numbers on Sinemet tablets mean?
The first number is carbidopa and the second is levodopa. A 25/100mg tablet holds 25mg of carbidopa and 100mg of levodopa; 25/250mg holds 25mg and 250mg.
Why does Sinemet make urine dark?
Levodopa breaks down into substances that are darker than usual, so urine, sweat and saliva can look darker than normal. It is harmless, not a sign that something is wrong, and it fades once the tablets are stopped.
About Sinemet
What Sinemet tablets are for
Sinemet pairs carbidopa with levodopa to treat the movement symptoms of Parkinson's disease — tremor, stiff and rigid muscles, and the slowness that makes everyday tasks drag. It also helps the Parkinson's-like symptoms that can follow encephalitis (swelling of the brain) or damage to the nervous system from carbon monoxide or manganese poisoning. It eases symptoms rather than curing the condition, and the full benefit can take several months of steady use to show.
Why the two ingredients are combined
Levodopa is the part that treats Parkinson's: the brain converts it into dopamine, which runs short in the condition and keeps movement smooth. On its own, though, most of a levodopa dose is broken down in the gut and blood before it reaches the brain, and what is left behind causes nausea and vomiting. Carbidopa stops that early breakdown, so a smaller amount of levodopa goes further and the stomach upset is milder.
Timing doses through the day
Most people end up with three or four doses spread across waking hours, because each one wears off and a regular rhythm keeps movement more even than an erratic one. Water is all the tablet needs; a heavy, fatty meal can hold a dose back. The one thing never to do is stop abruptly, since that can trigger fever, stiff muscles, uncontrolled movements and confusion, which needs urgent treatment.
Side effects to expect
Queasiness, vomiting and light-headedness come first, sometimes with a dry mouth, poor appetite or sleepiness, and they tend to fade once the dose settles. Years of treatment can bring twitching or writhing movements, hallucinations, confusion, or compulsive urges to gamble or spend. Darker sweat, saliva and urine are harmless. A racing or irregular heartbeat, fainting or chest pain has also been reported.
Choosing a strength
Three tablets are sold here: 10/100mg, 25/100mg and 25/250mg, with carbidopa given first and levodopa second. Carbidopa + Levodopa offers those same three ratios and a 50/200mg tablet as well.
Sources
- Levodopa and Carbidopa: MedlinePlus Drug Information — National Library of Medicine