Menesit tablets 100 mg for Parkinson's disease and parkinsonian syndrome (levodopa/carbidopa)

What are Menesit tablets (levodopa, carbidopa) 100 mg for Parkinson's disease and Parkinsonian syndrome?

Levodopa has been one of the most widely prescribed and effective medicines in Parkinson's disease for the past 50 years. However, many patients suffer from the side effects of levodopa, particularly from motor complications. 

Menesit tablets contain levodopa mixed with carbidopa, a decarboxylase inhibitor. It inhibits peripheral metabolism of levodopa and allows a higher percentage of peripheral levodopa to cross the blood-brain border and to affect the central nervous system. As the result, Menesit tablets reduce the amount of levodopa required and decrease the adverse effects, such as:

• slowness,
• stiffness,
• tremor,
• motor fluctuations.

Clinical trials have shown that combined therapy with levodopa and carbidopa increases on-time and provides greater functionality in patients with Parkinson's disease or parkinsonian syndrome when compared to levodopa alone. 

Active principles: levodopa 100 mg, carbidopa 10 mg

Amount: 100 tablets

Maker: MSD K.K., Tokyo, Japan

Indications: Parkinson's disease, Parkinsonian syndrome

How to take

If a patient hasn't taken levodopa before: adults should start with the initial dosage of 100-125 mg of levodopa at a time, 100-300 mg a day. Then the dose may be increased by 100-125 mg every day or every other day. The maintenance dose is 200-250 mg of levodopa at a time, 3 times a day. 

If a patients has already been taking levodopa: adults should take at least 8-hour interval after taking levodopa alone. The initial dose of Menesit tablets is calculated as one fifth of levodopa of the daily maintenance dose. The dosage should be divided into 3 times a day. 

Your doctor may adjust the dosage according to your symptoms in any case. However, the maximum daily dose of 1500 mg of levodopa should not be exceeded. 

Please note that this medicine contains 100 mg of levodopa in a tablet.

Contraindications: do not use for the following patients:

• pregnant and breastfeeding women,
• patients with glaucoma, 
• patients with hepatic or renal disorder, 
• patients with diabetes, 
• patients with cardiac or pulmonary disease, 
• patients with bronchial asthma, 
• patients with psychiatric symptom such as suicidality.

Important information

As these tablets may cause drowsiness, patient should avoid driving a car, operating dangerous mechanisms or working at heights.

If patient or their family notice any signs of unusual uncontrollable behavior (gambling, excessive shopping, abnormal rise in sexual desire or appetite etc.), they should consult with their doctor. 

If an allergic reaction occurs, patient needs to stop using the medicine and consult with their doctor. If patient is taking any other medication or treatment, they should consult with their doctor in advance.