Carbidopa-Levodopa (Sinemet) Side Effects

Possible side effects of carbidopa-levodopa are listed below. Call your doctor for medical advice if they are severe or do not go away in a few days.

• Dizziness 
• Dry mouth
• Loss of appetite
• Nausea
• Diarrhea
• Constipation
• Changes in taste
• Mouth and throat pain
• Confusion, forgetfulness, nervousness
• Sleep problems
• Nightmares
• Headache
• Weakness

Some of the adverse effects of carbidopa-levodopa are more serious. Call your doctor right away or seek emergency medical help if you develop:

• Fast, irregular heartbeat
• Involuntary movements in different parts of the body
• Swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat
• Hoarseness
• Difficulty breathing or swallowing
• Chest pain
• Skin rash, hives, itching
• Increased sweating
• Depression
• Suicidal thinking
• Hallucinations
• Weakness, numbness, or loss of sensation in the hands and feet
• Blood in stools or black, tarry stools
• Fever, abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting
• Blood in vomit or coffee-grounds vomit
• Redness, drainage, swelling, pain around the PEG-J tube if you are taking the enteral suspension

The above list may not include all the potential side effects of carbidopa-levodopa. Contact your healthcare provider if your side effects are unusual or severe or they do not get better over time. You can also report unusual side effects to the Food and Drug Administration at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Carbidopa-levodopa (Sinemet) Overdose: In case of an overdose, call your doctor immediately. You can also call the national poison control center at 1-800-222-1222. If someone has lost consciousness, collapsed, is not breathing, or has had a seizure, call 911.

Source: FDA