Carbidopa / Levodopa / Entacapone is a combination of three active components for the treatment of Parkinson’s disease. Carbidopa is a dopa decarboxylase inhibitor that helps prevent the conversion of levodopa to dopamine.  Levodopa is an aromatic amino acid decarboxylation inhibitor is the most effective and commonly used drug in the treatment of Parkinson’s disease. Entacapone is a catechol-o-methyltransferase inhibitor used in the treatment of Parkinson’s Disease with the above two ingredients.

Class of Drugs – A dopa decarboxylase inhibitor, aromatic amino acid decarboxylation inhibitor and catechol-o-methyltransferase inhibitor

Molecular Formula – C₁₀H₁₄N₂O₄ + C₉H₁₁NO₄+ C₁₄H₁₅N₃O₅

Molecular Weight – 226.23 g/mol + 197.19 g/mol + 305.29 g/mol

Working: One of the ingredients Levodopa changes into dopamine in the brain that controls movement. Carbidopa prevents the breakdown of levodopa in the bloodstream to increase the concentration of levodopa in the brain. It decreases some of the levodopa’s side effects like nausea and vomiting. It allows the doctor to increase the levodopa dose more quickly to find the best dose for a particular individual. Entacapone also prevents the breakdown of levodopa in the bloodstream so that it can enter the brain.

Uses: The combination of Carbidopa / Levodopa / Entacapone is used to treat the symptoms of Parkinson’s disease and Parkinson’s-like symptoms that may develop after encephalitis (swelling of the brain) or injury to the nervous system caused by carbon monoxide poisoning or manganese poisoning. Parkinson’s symptoms, including tremors (shaking), stiffness, and slowness of movement, are caused by a lack of dopamine, a natural substance usually found in the brain.

Popular Brands and Dosages: This combination Carbidopa / Levodopa / Entacapone medicine is used in a popular brand medicine as follows:

• Stalevo: 12.5 mg + 50 mg + 200 mg, 25 mg + 100 mg + 200 mg, and 37.5 mg + 150 mg + 200 mg

Avoid sports that involved body contacts while treating with this medicine.