Sinemet is a medication used to manage symptoms of Parkinson's disease such as tremors and muscle spasms. According to Drugs.com, Sinemet is a combination of the drugs carbidopa and levodopa. Levodopa is typically converted to dopamine, one of the many neurotransmitters (chemicals) in the brain. Low dopamine levels lead to Parkinson's disease. Carbidopa prevents levodopa breakdown. Typically, one Sinemet tablet is taken daily or as a doctor instructs, according to the National Library of Medicine.
Common Side Effects
According to MedlinePlus, Sinemet's common side effects include nausea, vomiting, a poor appetite, diarrhea and headaches. Frequent vomiting and nausea can cause your potassium levels to decline. This is known medically as hypokalemia. Signs of hypokalemia include constipation, irregular heart rhythms, fatigue and muscle weakness. These side effects can also cause dehydration. Drink seven to 10 glasses of water daily to replace your fluids. Sinemet can also cause dizziness, nausea, nightmares, trouble sleeping, sweating and drowsiness. Inform your doctor when these effects last for more than four days.
Serious Side Effects
According to the National Library of Medicine, Sinemet can provoke a potentially fatal condition called neuroleptic malignant syndrome (NMS). Symptoms of NMS include muscle rigidity, loss of consciousness, mental status changes, involuntary movements, hyperthermia (high body temperature) and sweating. Go to the hospital immediately when Sinemet causes these effects.
Drugs.com indicates that Sinemet can also cause chest pain, convulsions, worsened tremors, changes in your heart rate, hallucinations, depression and suicidal thoughts or actions. Erratic electrical activity in your brain causes convulsions. Convulsions that persist for more than 30 minutes can result in brain damage and death.
Additional Concerns
Avoid Sinemet if you are hypersensitive to carbidopa or levodopa. An allergic reaction to Sinemet consists of the following potentially life-threatening symptoms: difficulty breathing and facial, throat or tongue edema (swelling). Call 911.
The National Library of Medicine indicates that the levodopa component in Sinemet can activate malignant melanoma (skin cancer) if you have a history of skin cancer or a suspicious skin lesion.
Sinemet might contaminate breast milk and harm nursing babies. Tell a physician if nursing a child.
Avoid combining Sinemet with metoclopramide, isoniazid, phenytoin and amitriptyline. A doctor might have to adjust the Sinemet dosage to ward off the aforementioned side effects.
In the event a patient is already taking levodopa, he should discontinue it 12 hours before taking Sinemet, according to the National Library of Medicine. This will prevent the aforementioned effects.
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