Doses vary from person to person. Always follow the instructions from your doctor or specialist nurse.
Dosage
If you've been prescribed co-careldopa, you'll usually start with a low dose. Your doctor or specialist nurse will increase your dose gradually until your symptoms are under control. It's best to take the lowest dose that controls your symptoms. This helps reduce your chance of side effects.
Co-careldopa tablets
You’ll be prescribed standard tablets, slow-release tablets, or a combination of both.
Standard tablets work fairly quickly. You'll usually take these tablets several times a day, depending on your dose.
Slow-release tablets get the medicine into your body gradually. This means you do not have to take them as often.
The tablets come in different strengths. The medicine packet will show the amount of carbidopa followed by the amount of levodopa (both in milligrams).
How to take the tablets
Take your co-careldopa at the same time each day. This is important to help control your symptoms.
Slow-release tablets are usually taken once or twice a day. You'll usually take standard tablets 3 or 4 times a day. Your doctor may recommend taking your co-careldopa more often if you need it to control your symptoms.
It's best to avoid taking co-careldopa at the same time as meals containing a lot of protein, such as meat, eggs, cheese, beans or lentils. Protein can reduce the amount of co-careldopa your body takes in, meaning that your medicine will not work properly.
Swallow the tablets whole, with a drink of water. Do not crush or chew the slow-release tablets.
If you find swallowing tablets difficult, talk to your pharmacist, doctor or specialist nurse.
How long to take it for
You'll probably take co-careldopa for a long time. You can keep taking this medicine as long as it's controlling your symptoms and you're not having any serious side effects.
If you forget to take it
If you forget to take a tablet, take it as soon as you remember, unless it's nearly time for your next dose. In this case, leave out the missed dose and take your next dose at the usual time.
Never take 2 doses at the same time. Never take an extra dose to make up for a forgotten dose.
If you often forget doses, it may help to set an alarm to remind you. You could also ask a pharmacist for advice on other ways to help you remember to take your medicine.
If you take too much
Taking 1 or 2 extra tablets is unlikely to harm you, but talk to your doctor, specialist nurse or a pharmacist if you’re concerned.
Urgent advice: Contact 111 for advice now if:
You take too many co-careldopa tablets and you:
- have muscle spasms or uncontrolled movements
- have a fast, slow or irregular heartbeat
- feel unwell
Go to 111.nhs.uk or call 111.
If you need to go to A&E, do not drive yourself. Get someone else to drive you or call for an ambulance.
Take the co-careldopa packet, or leaflet inside it, and any remaining medicine with you.
Stopping co-careldopa
If you stop taking co-careldopa suddenly, you may have serious withdrawal symptoms such as stiff muscles, a high temperature and confusion.
If you need to stop taking this medicine, your doctor or specialist nurse will reduce your dose gradually. This will help prevent withdrawal symptoms.
Unless you're taking other medicines for Parkinson's disease, your symptoms will also return if you stop taking co-careldopa.
Co-careldopa gel
If your doctor recommends co-careldopa gel, this will be given under specialist care. Follow the instructions from your doctor or your specialist nurse.