Levodopa/Carbidopa and Norphyl

• Generic Name: carbidopa / levodopa
• Dosage Forms: n.a.
• Other Brand Names: Parcopa, Rytary, Sinemet, Sinemet CR, Duopa

Levodopa is used for symptomatic treatment of parkinsonian syndrome (e.g., parkinsonism, idiopathic Parkinson disease [paralysis agitans]); also used for postencephalitic parkinsonism and symptomatic parkinsonian syndrome resulting from carbon monoxide intoxication or manganese intoxication.

Carbidopa is used in conjunction with levodopa to inhibit decarboxylation of peripheral levodopa and increase the amount of levodopa available for transport to the brain.

Levodopa (in combination with carbidopa) is the most effective drug for relieving motor symptoms of parkinsonian syndrome and is considered the drug of choice for this use.

Levodopa provides symptomatic relief (e.g., akinesia, rigidity, tremor) and improves functional ability; however, effectiveness decreases over time and most patients develop motor fluctuations and dyskinesias (drug-induced involuntary movements) with long-term use.

Strategies for reducing the risk of motor complications associated with long-term levodopa therapy include adjusting dosage of levodopa, adding adjunctive antiparkinsonian agents (e.g., dopamine agonist [e.g., pramipexole, ropinirole, rotigotine], selective monoamine oxidase [MAO]-B inhibitor [e.g., rasagiline, safinamide, selegiline], catechol-O-methyltransferase [COMT] inhibitor [entacapone, tolcapone], amantadine), or initiating therapy with other antiparkinsonian agents first to delay use of levodopa. Delayed approach is often used in younger patients who have a higher risk of developing motor complications. Levodopa generally is used for initial therapy in patients >70 years of age, those with cognitive impairment, and those with severe disease.

Not effective in the management of extrapyramidal effects induced by antipsychotic agents (e.g., phenothiazines).

• Generic Name: theophylline
• Dosage Forms: n.a.
• Other Brand Names: Elixophyllin, Theo-24, Respbid, T-Phyl, Aerolate III, Slo-Bid Gyrocaps, Slo-Phyllin, Theobid, Theo-Dur, Theolair, Theovent, Bronkodyl, Theo-X, Theo-Time, Theochron, Slo-Phyllin 125, Theoclear LA-130, Aerolate JR, Theolair-SR, Theoclear LA-260, Quibron-T, Quibron-T/SR, Uniphyl, Uni-Dur, Aerolate SR, Slo-Phyllin 80, Theoclear-80, Theo-Dur Sprinkles, Theosol-80, Asmalix, Aquaphyllin, Truxophyllin, Slo-Phyllin 250, TheoCap

Theophylline is used together with other medicines to treat the symptoms of asthma, bronchitis, emphysema, and other lung diseases.

Theophylline belongs to a group of medicines known as bronchodilators. Bronchodilators are medicines that relax the muscles in the bronchial tubes (air passages) of the lungs. They relieve cough, wheezing, shortness of breath, and troubled breathing by increasing the flow of air through the bronchial tubes.

This medicine is available only with your doctor's prescription.