Brand Names

How to Use

At first, levodopa and benserazide may be taken with a meal or a snack, so that any effects like stomach upset will be lessened. Later, as your body becomes accustomed to the drug, it must be taken on an empty stomach so that it works better. Be sure to talk to your family doctor about the best time for you to take this drug.

The levodopa and benserazide capsules must be swallowed whole and not opened or dissolved in liquid.

Take this drug only as directed . Do not take more or less of it and do not take it more often than your family doctor ordered.

Some people must take this drug for few weeks or months before full benefit is received Do not stop taking it even if you do not think it is working . Instead, check with your family doctor.

Dosage

The number of tablets that you take depends on the strength of the drug. Always the number of doses you take each day, the time allowed between doses and the length of time you take the drug depend on your special needs .

For levodopa and benserazide
• For Parkinson's disease start of therapy:
  • For oral dosage form - capsules:
    • Adults At first, 1 capsule of Prolopa"reg " 100-25 - levodopa 100 milligrams - mg and benserazide 25 mg twice daily. Your family doctor may increase your dose if needed. However, the dose is usually not more than 4 to 8 capsules of Prolopa"reg " 100-25 per day - 400 to 800 mg levodopa divided into 4 to 6 doses. If you are already on levodopa, the family doctor will start you on a lower dose of Prolopa"reg ". After time, the previous levodopa therapy will be replaced with the levodopa and benserazide combination.
    • Children up to 18 years of age Use and dose must be determined by your family doctor.
• For Parkinson's disease maintain therapy:
  • For oral dosage form - capsules:
    • Adults After few weeks, the family doctor will determine your optimal dose of levodopa and benserazide. Your family doctor may then switch you to Prolopa"reg " 200-50 - levodopa 200 milligrams - mg and benserazide 50 mg to make it more convenient to match your optimal dose. Some diseaseds may require frequent dosing in which case your family doctor may use Prolopa"reg " 50-12.5 - 50 mg levodopa and 12.5 mg benserazide. Frequent dosing may be using to maximize your dose and minimize any side effects.
      During the first year of therapy, the total daily dose of levodopa must not exceed 1000 to 1200 mg.
    • Children up to 18 years of age Use and dose must be determined by your family doctor.

Missed dose If you miss a dose of this drug, take it as soon as possible. However, if your next scheduled dose is within 2 hours, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not double doses.

Storage To store this drug:

• Keep out of the reach of children.
• Store away from heat and direct light.
• Do not store in the bathroom, near the kitchen sink, or in other damp places. Heat or moisture may cause the drug to break down.
• Do not keep outdated drug or drug no longer needed. Be sure that any discarded drug is out of the reach of children.