Madopar 62.5mg, 50 mg + 12.5 mg, capsules
Levodopa + Benserazide
Madopar is a combination medicine containing two active substances: levodopa and benserazide (in the form of hydrochloride).
Madopar is indicated for the treatment of Parkinson's disease.
Madopar 125 mg, 100 mg + 25 mg, capsules; Madopar, 200 mg + 50 mg, capsules and Madopar HBS, 100 mg + 25 mg, capsules are also indicated for the symptomatic treatment of idiopathic (primary) or renal failure-related restless legs syndrome (RLS).
In larger quantities, levodopa penetrates the brain and is converted to dopamine, and there is no conversion of levodopa to dopamine in extracerebral tissues, which results in fewer side effects. Madopar can thus have a beneficial effect on the symptoms associated with Parkinson's disease. However, it does not cure the disease, as it does not eliminate the cause of dopamine deficiency in the brain. The causal treatment of the disease is currently impossible.
Before starting to take Madopar, you should discuss with your doctor or pharmacist if:
During the dose titration phase, it is necessary to periodically monitor liver, kidney, and cardiovascular function
and monitor blood counts.
During treatment with Madopar, depressionmay occur, which may be related to the underlying disease. Patients taking Madopar should be closely monitored for psychological changes and depression: with or without suicidal thoughts.
Patients taking Madopar may experience cognitive and behavioral disorders.
In rare cases, duringlevodopa treatment, sleepiness and/or sudden sleep attacksmay occur.
Very rarely, reports of sleep attacks that can occur during daily activities, sometimes without warning or prior sleepiness, have been made. Therefore, during treatment with Madopar, caution should be exercised when driving or operating machinery. Patients who have already experienced sleepiness or sleep attacks should not drive or operate machinery.
In case of sleepiness or sleep attacks, the doctor should consider reducing the dose or discontinuing treatment.
Hypersensitivity reactionsmay occur in susceptible individuals.
You should inform your doctor if you or your relatives notice unusual behaviors resulting from irresistible impulses, compulsions, or urges to perform certain actions that may be harmful to the patient or others. Such behaviors are called impulse control disordersand may include addiction to gambling, compulsive or binge eating, excessive sexual drive, or intensified sexual thoughts and feelings. It may be necessary to re-evaluate the treatment being used by the doctor.
Patients with Parkinson's disease have an increased risk of developing malignant melanoma. It is not clear whether the observed increased risk is due to Parkinson's disease or other factors, such as levodopa used to treat Parkinson's disease. During treatment with Madopar for any indication, regular periodic skin examinations should be performed to detect melanoma.
Madopar should not be discontinued abruptly.
Sudden discontinuation of the medicine may lead to a potentially life-threatening condition resembling malignant neuroleptic syndrome (high fever, muscle stiffness, possible mental changes). In case of such symptoms, the patient should be under medical supervision, if necessary in a hospital, and should receive appropriate symptomatic treatment promptly.
In a small number of patients, cognitive and behavioral disorders may occur, which may be directly related to taking a higher dose of the medicine than recommended (a dose significantly exceeding the dose of the medicine required to treat motor impairment).
You should tell your doctor or pharmacist about all medicines you are currently taking or have recently taken, as well as any medicines you plan to take.
If a doctor has prescribed Madopar for patients taking non-selective MAOIs, there should be at least a two-week interval between the end of non-selective MAOI treatment and the start of Madopar treatment.
Concomitant use of Madopar with selective MAO-B inhibitors, such as selegiline and rasagiline, or selective MAO-A inhibitors, such as moclobemide, is allowed.
However, concurrent administration of a selective MAO-A inhibitor and a selective MAO-B inhibitor is equivalent to non-selective MAOI inhibition and should not be used simultaneously with Madopar.
Taking antacids and Madopar HBSreduces the absorption of levodopa and may cause a weaker effect of the medicine.
Concomitant use of iron sulfate reduces the maximum levodopa concentration in the blood.
Metoclopramide increases the rate of levodopa absorption. Domperidone may affect increased levodopa absorption in the intestine.
When using antihypertensive drugsand Madopar concomitantly, it is necessary to regularly monitor blood pressure to allow for dose adjustment of the antihypertensive drugs.
Neuroleptic drugs, opioids, and antihypertensive drugs containing reserpineinhibit the effect of Madopar.
Concomitant use of Madopar with anti-Parkinsonian drugs(amantadine, selegiline, bromocriptine, dopamine agonists, anticholinergic drugs, such as trihexyphenidyl) is allowed, but it should be noted that both the desired and undesired effects of the medicine may be enhanced. It is necessary to pay attention to not abruptly discontinuing anticholinergic drugswhen starting treatment with Madopar, as the effect of levodopa occurs after some time.
Concomitant administration of antipsychotic drugs with drugs having dopamine receptor blocking properties may counteract the effect of Madopar on Parkinson's disease. Levodopa may counteract the effect of antipsychotic drugs. Caution should be exercised when concomitantly administering these drugs, and the patient should be closely monitored for reduced efficacy of anti-Parkinsonian drugs and worsening of Parkinson's disease symptoms.
Levodopa contained in Madopar may affect the results of laboratory tests for catecholamines, creatinine, uric acid, and glucosuria.
In patients taking Madopar, false-positive Coombs test resultsand false-positive ketone bodies in urinemay occur.
In case of general anesthesia using halothane, Madopar should be discontinued 12-48 hours before the procedure, as concurrent administration of Madopar and halothane may cause blood pressure fluctuations and/or cardiac arrhythmias.
Concomitant consumption of protein-rich meals may weaken the effect of the medicine in immediate-release forms, i.e., capsules and standard-release tablets, as well as oral suspension tablets. There are no data available on the effect of food on the efficacy of Madopar in other pharmaceutical forms.
Madopar should not be used during pregnancy or in women of childbearing age who do not use effective contraception.
Before starting treatment, it is recommended to perform a pregnancy test to rule out pregnancy.
If a woman taking Madopar becomes pregnant, the medicine should be discontinued (after consulting a doctor).
Madopar should not be used during breastfeeding, as the active substances of the medicine may pass into breast milk and harm the baby.
During treatment with Madopar, sleepiness may occur, and in rare cases, sudden sleep attacks may occur, so caution should be exercised when driving or operating machinery. Patients who have already experienced sleepiness or sleep attacks during treatment with Madopar should not drive or operate machinery, as their concentration may be impaired, posing a risk of serious injury or death to themselves or others.
Madopar 250 mg tablets contain less than 1 mmol (23 mg) of sodium per tablet, which means the medicine is considered "sodium-free".
Madopar HBS contains soybean oil (a component of hydrogenated vegetable oil). Madopar HBS should not be used in case of known hypersensitivity to peanuts or soy.
This medicine should always be taken as directed by your doctor or pharmacist. If you have any doubts, you should consult a doctor or pharmacist.
Dosing in Parkinson's disease:
Madopar should never be taken without a doctor's prescription.
Under no circumstances should the dosage be changed without the doctor's consent.
Undesirable gastrointestinal symptoms that occur mainly in the initial phase of treatment can usually be avoided by taking Madopar with a small, protein-poor meal or drink, or by gradually increasing the dose. Madopar HBS can be taken regardless of meals.
For effective treatment, it is essential to take the correct amount of medicine at the right time.
The doctor determines the appropriate amount and frequency of taking the medicine individually and, in close cooperation with the patient, determines the best treatment schedule for them. Therefore, you should strictly follow their recommendations. Generally, at the beginning of treatment, the doctor prescribes Madopar in smaller doses and gradually increases the dose. This is done so that the patient's body can adapt to the medicine, thus limiting side effects as much as possible.
Typically, the recommended dose of Madopar is:
In the early stages of Parkinson's disease, treatment usually starts with one Madopar 62.5 mg capsule (50 mg levodopa + 12.5 mg benserazide) 3-4 times a day.
Optimal therapeutic effectis usually achieved with a daily dose of Madopar equivalent to 300-800 mg levodopa + 75-200 mg benserazide, taken in at least 3 divided doses over a period of 4-6 weeks.
Average maintenance dosecorresponds to 1 Madopar 125 mg capsule, taken 3-6 times a day. The number of divided doses and their distribution throughout the day should be determined individually by the doctor for each patient, depending on their clinical condition. Madopar HBS and Madopar in the form of oral suspension tablets can be administered instead of the standard-release form of Madopar (capsules and tablets) to achieve optimal therapeutic effect.
Dosing in restless legs syndrome
In restless legs syndrome, the dosage depends on the severity of the disease, with optimal efficacy achieved through careful individual dose adjustment. Madopar is usually taken for a longer period. The dosage and duration of treatment are determined by the doctor. The medicine should be taken 1 hour before bedtime, preferably with a small amount of liquid and bread. Taking capsules during a meal containing a lot of protein may reduce the absorption of Madopar and limit its efficacy.
Typically, the recommended dose of Madopar is:
Idiopathic restless legs syndrome
Madopar is taken orally 1 hour before bedtime. To avoid gastrointestinal side effects, it is best to take the medicine with a small meal.
RLS with sleep disturbances
In patients with RLS who complain of sleep disturbances, the recommended dose of Madopar is 62.5 mg - 125 mg. If symptoms persist, the dose of Madopar can be increased to 250 mg.
RLS with sleep disturbances and nighttime sleep disorders
In patients with RLS who experience both sleep disturbances and nighttime sleep disorders, 1 Madopar HBS capsule should be taken with 1 Madopar 125 mg capsule 1 hour before bedtime. If this does not lead to sufficient alleviation of symptoms in the second part of the night, the dose can be increased to 2 Madopar HBS capsules.
RLS with sleep disturbances and nighttime sleep disorders, as well as additional daytime disorders
In such patients, an additional dose of 125 mg Madopar standard-release form is recommended, taking care not to exceed the maximum daily dose of 500 mg Madopar.
Restless legs syndrome associated with renal failure requiring dialysis
In patients with RLS undergoing dialysis, a dose of 125 mg Madopar standard-release form or oral suspension tablets should be taken 30 minutes before dialysis.
Parkinson's disease:
All patients should have their dose carefully determined. Patients treated with other anti-Parkinsonian drugs may receive Madopar. As the patient's condition improves with Madopar treatment, the doses of these drugs can be reduced or gradually discontinued.
Madopar in the form of oral suspension tabletsis particularly recommended for patients with dysphagia (swallowing disorders) or when rapid onset of action is desired.
Patients who experience large fluctuations in the effect of the medicine throughout the dayshould receive smaller doses more frequently throughout the day or have their standard-release form of Madopar replaced with Madopar HBS.
Switching from standard-release form to Madopar HBSshould be done from day to day, starting with the first morning dose. The same daily dose and distribution of doses should be maintained as with the standard-release form.
After 2-3 days, the dose can be gradually increased by about 50%. There is a possibility of temporary worsening of the condition.
Properties of Madopar HBScause its onset of action to occur later than with standard-release preparations. The intended effect can be achieved faster by administering Madopar HBS with a standard-release form or oral suspension tablets of Madopar. This method may be particularly useful when administering the first morning dose, which usually should be larger than subsequent doses taken throughout the day. The dosing regimen of Madopar HBS is determined by the doctor individually, slowly, and with special caution, with intervals of at least 2-3 days between each dose change.
In patients with reduced motor function at night, positive effects are achieved by gradually increasing the last evening dose of Madopar HBS to 250 mg, taken directly before bedtime.
Excessive response (dyskinesia)after taking Madopar HBS is more beneficial to reduce by prolonging the time interval between individual doses rather than reducing single doses.
In case of insufficient clinical response to Madopar HBS, it is recommended to return to the previous treatment with standard-release forms of Madopar or Madopar oral suspension tablets.
Restless legs syndrome (RLS)
To avoid worsening of symptoms (i.e., early occurrence of RLS symptoms during the day, increased severity of symptoms, and involvement of other body parts), the maximum recommended daily dose of Madopar should not be exceeded.
In case of worsening or rebound effect, it is essential not to exceed the maximum daily dose. If worsening or rebound occurs, consideration should be given to adjunctive treatment with reduced levodopa dose or gradual discontinuation of levodopa and replacement with another medicine.
Taking Madopar in the form of tablets, capsules, or HBS capsules
Madopar capsules and Madopar HBS capsules should always be swallowed whole, without chewing, washed down with a non-alcoholic beverage, and taken with a small amount of food. If the doctor has prescribed Madopar in the form of tablets, the prescribed amount can be crushed if necessary to facilitate swallowing.
Taking Madopar in the form of oral suspension tablets
Oral suspension tablets should be dissolved in a small amount of water (about 25-50 ml). The tablets should not be dissolved in fruit juices, milk, or hot beverages, as this reduces the efficacy of Madopar. Within a few minutes, the tablet will completely disintegrate and form a white suspension. The suspension should be consumed within 30 minutes of preparation.
Before drinking the suspension, it should be well mixed.
In case of a feeling that the effect of Madopar is too strong or too weak, you should consult a doctor.
In case of taking a higher dose of Madopar than recommended, you should immediately consult a doctor or pharmacist.
The most common symptoms of overdose may be cardiovascular symptoms (arrhythmias), psychiatric disorders (e.g., disorientation and insomnia), gastrointestinal symptoms (e.g., nausea and vomiting), and involuntary movements. If the patient has overdosed on Madopar with prolonged release (i.e., HBS capsules), the onset of symptoms may be delayed due to the later absorption of active substances from the gastrointestinal tract.
Overdose of Madopar requires immediate medical attention, if necessary in a hospital or intensive care unit. It is recommended to monitor the patient's vital functions and other parameters according to their clinical condition.
Patients may require treatment for cardiovascular symptoms (e.g., arrhythmias) or central nervous system disorders. It may be necessary to administer anti-arrhythmic drugs and/or respiratory stimulants or neuroleptic drugs.
You should not take a double dose to make up for a missed dose. Subsequent doses of the medicine should be taken according to the schedule established by the doctor.
Madopar should not be discontinued abruptly. See section 2 Warnings and precautions.
In case of any further doubts related to the use of this medicine, you should consult a doctor or pharmacist.
Like all medicines, Madopar can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them.
The following side effects have been reported in clinical trials with Madopar in restless legs syndrome:
Common:may affect up to 1 in 10 people
The following side effects have been reported during post-marketing use of Madopar:
Frequency not known:cannot be estimated from the available data
You should inform your doctor if you experience any of the above behaviors, so that ways to control or limit these symptoms can be discussed.
If any side effects worsen or any side effects not listed in this leaflet occur, you should inform your doctor or pharmacist.
If you experience any side effects, including any side effects not listed in this leaflet, you should tell your doctor, pharmacist, or nurse.
Side effects can be reported directly to the "national reporting system" (see below for details). By reporting side effects, you can help provide more information on the safety of this medicine.
Department of Drug Safety Monitoring, Office for Registration of Medicinal Products, Medical Devices, and Biocidal Products
Al. Jerozolimskie 181C
02-222 Warsaw
Phone: +48 22 49 21 301
Fax: +48 22 49 21 309
Website: https://smz.ezdrowie.gov.pl
Side effects can also be reported to the marketing authorization holder.
The medicine should be stored out of sight and reach of children.
Madopar HBS should be stored at a temperature not exceeding 30°C. The bottle should be kept tightly closed to protect it from moisture.
Madopar 62.5 mg, 50 mg + 12.5 mg, oral suspension tablets, and Madopar 125 mg, 100 mg + 25 mg, oral suspension tablets should be stored at a temperature below 30°C. The bottle should be kept tightly closed to protect it from moisture.
Madopar 250 mg, 200 mg + 50 mg, tablets should be stored at a temperature below 25°C. The bottle should be kept tightly closed to protect it from moisture.
Madopar 62.5 mg, 50 mg + 12.5 mg, capsules; Madopar 125 mg, 100 mg + 25 mg, capsules; Madopar, 200 mg + 50 mg, capsules: The bottle should be kept tightly closed to protect it from moisture.
Do not use this medicine after the expiry date stated on the packaging. The expiry date refers to the last day of the month stated.
Medicines should not be disposed of via wastewater or household waste. You should ask your pharmacist how to dispose of medicines that are no longer needed. This will help protect the environment.
The packaging contains: 100 tablets, 100 oral suspension tablets, or 100 capsules of Madopar, or 30 or 100 capsules of Madopar HBS.
Madopar 62.5 mg, 50 mg + 12.5 mg, capsules; light blue-gray capsules containing 50 mg levodopa and 12.5 mg benserazide (in the form of hydrochloride).
Madopar 125 mg, 100 mg + 25 mg, capsules; light blue-pink capsules containing 100 mg levodopa and 25 mg benserazide (in the form of hydrochloride).
Madopar, 200 mg + 50 mg, capsules; light blue-brown capsules containing 200 mg levodopa and 50 mg benserazide (in the form of hydrochloride).
Madopar HBS, 100 mg + 25 mg, capsules; (Hydrodynamically Balanced System) green-light blue capsules with prolonged release containing 100 mg levodopa and 25 mg benserazide (in the form of hydrochloride).
Madopar 250 mg, 200 mg + 50 mg, tablets; pink tablets containing 200 mg levodopa and 50 mg benserazide (in the form of hydrochloride).
Madopar 62.5 mg, 50 mg + 12.5 mg, oral suspension tablets; divisible, white, with a gray or cream tint, containing 50 mg levodopa and 12.5 mg benserazide (in the form of hydrochloride).
Madopar 125 mg, 100 mg + 25 mg, oral suspension tablets; divisible, white, with a gray or cream tint, containing 100 mg levodopa and 25 mg benserazide (in the form of hydrochloride).
Not all pack sizes may be marketed.
Marketing authorization holder:
Roche Polska Sp. z o.o.
ul. Domaniewska 28
02-672 Warsaw
Phone: 022 345 18 88
Fax: 022 345 18 74
Importer:
Roche Pharma AG
Emil-Barell-Strasse 1
79639 Grenzach-Wyhlen
Germany
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