Carbidopa, Levodopa and Entacapone

Dosage Forms And Strengths

Each Stalevo tablet, provided in 6 single-dose strengths, contains carbidopa and levodopa in a 1:4 ratio and a 200 mg dose of entacapone. Stalevo (carbidopa, levodopa and entacapone) is supplied as film-coated tablets for oral administration in the following 6 strengths:

Stalevo 50 film-coated tablets containing 12.5 mg of carbidopa, 50 mg of levodopa and 200 mg of entacapone. The round, bi-convex shaped tablets are brownish- or greyish-red, unscored, and embossed “LCE 50” on one side.

Stalevo 75 film-coated tablets containing 18.75 mg of carbidopa, 75 mg of levodopa and 200 mg of entacapone. The oval-shaped tablets are light brownish red, unscored and embossed with code “LCE 75” on one side.

Stalevo 100 film-coated tablets containing 25 mg of carbidopa, 100 mg of levodopa and 200 mg of entacapone. The oval-shaped tablets are brownish- or greyish-red, unscored, and embossed “LCE 100” on one side.

Stalevo 125 film-coated tablets containing 31.25 mg of carbidopa, 125 mg of levodopa and 200 mg of entacapone. The oval-shaped tablets are light brownish red, unscored and embossed with code “LCE 125” on one side.

Stalevo 150 film-coated tablets containing 37.5 mg of carbidopa, 150 mg of levodopa and 200 mg of entacapone. The elongated-ellipse shaped tablets are brownish- or greyish-red, unscored, and embossed “LCE 150” on one side.

Stalevo 200 film-coated tablets containing 50 mg of carbidopa, 200 mg of levodopa and 200 mg of entacapone. The oval shaped tablets are dark brownish red, unscored, and embossed “LCE 200” on one side.

Storage And Handling

Stalevo (carbidopa, levodopa and entacapone) is supplied as film-coated tablets for oral administration in the following six strengths:

Stalevo 50 film-coated tablets containing 12.5 mg of carbidopa, 50 mg of levodopa, and 200 mg of entacapone.

The round, bi-convex shaped tablets are brownish- or greyish-red, unscored, and embossed “LCE 50” on one side.

HDPE bottle of 100 tablets NDC 0078-0407-05

Stalevo 75 film-coated tablets containing 18.75 mg of carbidopa, 75 mg of levodopa, and 200 mg of entacapone.

The oval-shaped tablets are light brownish red, unscored and embossed with code “LCE 75” on one side.

HDPE bottle of 100 tablets NDC 0078-0544-05

Stalevo 100 film-coated tablets containing 25 mg of carbidopa, 100 mg of levodopa, and 200 mg of entacapone.

The oval-shaped tablets are brownish- or greyish-red, unscored, and embossed “LCE 100” on one side.

HDPE bottle of 100 tablets NDC 0078-0408-05

Stalevo 125 film-coated tablets containing 31.25 mg of carbidopa, 125 mg of levodopa, and 200 mg of entacapone.

The oval-shaped tablets are light brownish red, unscored and embossed with code “LCE 125” on one side.

HDPE bottle of 100 tablets NDC 0078-0545-05

Stalevo 150 film-coated tablets containing 37.5 mg of carbidopa, 150 mg of levodopa, and 200 mg of entacapone.

The elongated-ellipse shaped tablets are brownish- or greyish-red, unscored, and embossed “LCE 150” on one side.

HDPE bottle of 100 tablets NDC 0078-0409-05

Stalevo 200 film-coated tablets containing 50 mg of carbidopa, 200 mg of levodopa, and 200 mg of entacapone.

The oval shaped tablets are dark brownish red, unscored, and embossed “LCE 200” on one side.

HDPE bottle of 100 tablets NDC 0078-0527-05

Store at 25°C (77°F); excursions permitted to 15°C to 30°C (59°F to 86°F).

[See USP Controlled Room Temperature.]

Dispense in tight container (USP).

Manufactured by: Orion Corporation Orion Pharma Orionintie 1, FI-02200 Espoo, Finland. Marketed by: Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation East Hanover, New Jersey 07936. Revised: July 2014

Signs And Symptoms Of Overdosage

There are very few cases of overdose with levodopa reported in the published literature. Based on the available information, the acute symptoms of levodopa and dopa decarboxylase inhibitor overdose can be expected to arise from dopaminergic overstimulation. Doses of a few grams may result in CNS disturbances, with an increasing likelihood of cardiovascular disturbance (e.g., hypotension, tachycardia) and more severe psychiatric problems at higher doses. An isolated report of rhabdomyolysis and another of transient renal insufficiency suggest that levodopa overdose may give rise to systemic complications, secondary to dopaminergic overstimulation.

COMT inhibition by entacapone treatment is dose-dependent. A massive overdose of entacapone may theoretically produce a 100% inhibition of the COMT enzyme in people, thereby preventing the O-methylation of endogenous and exogenous catechols.

In clinical trials, the highest single dose of entacapone administered to humans was 800 mg, resulting in a plasma concentration of 14.1 mcg per mL. The highest daily dose given to humans was 2,400 mg, administered in one study as 400 mg six times daily with carbidopa/levodopa for 14 days in 15 Parkinson's disease patients, and in another study as 800 mg three times daily for 7 days in 8 healthy volunteers. At this daily dose, the peak plasma concentrations of entacapone averaged 2.0 mcg per mL (at 45 min, compared to 1.0 mcg per mL and 1.2 mcg per mL with 200 mg entacapone at 45 min.). Abdominal pain and loose stools were the most commonly observed adverse events during this study. Daily doses as high as 2,000 mg entacapone have been administered as 200 mg 10 times daily with carbidopa/levodopa or benserazide/levodopa for at least 1 year in 10 patients, for at least 2 years in 8 patients and for at least 3 years in 7 patients. Overall, however, clinical experience with daily doses above 1,600 mg is limited.

Management Of Overdosage

Hospitalization is advised, and general supportive measures should be employed, along with immediate gastric lavage and repeated doses of charcoal over time. This may hasten the elimination of entacapone in particular, by decreasing its absorption and reabsorption from the GI tract. Intravenous fluids should be administered judiciously and an adequate airway maintained.

Respiratory, circulatory and renal function should be monitored and appropriate supportive measures employed. Electrocardiographic monitoring should be instituted and the patient carefully observed for the development of arrhythmias; if required, appropriate antiarrhythmic therapy should be given. The possibility that the patient may have taken other drugs, increasing the risk of drug interactions (especially catechol-structured drugs) should be taken into consideration. To date, no experience has been reported with dialysis; hence, its value in overdosage is not known. Hemodialysis or hemoperfusion is unlikely to reduce entacapone levels due to its high binding to plasma proteins.

Pyridoxine is not effective in reversing the actions of Stalevo.

Falling Asleep During Activities of Daily Living and Somnolence

Advise patients about the potential for sedating effects associated with Stalevo including somnolence and the possibility of falling asleep while engaged in activities of daily living. Because somnolence can be a frequent adverse reaction with potentially serious consequences, patients should not drive a motor vehicle, operate heavy machinery or engage in other potentially dangerous activities until they have gained sufficient experience with Stalevo to determine whether or not it affects their mental and/or motor performance adversely [see WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS]. Advise patients that if increased somnolence or episodes of falling asleep during activities of daily living (e.g., conversations, eating, driving a motor vehicle, etc.) are experienced at any time during treatment, they should not drive or participate in potentially dangerous activities until they have contacted their physician.

Advise patients to speak with their health care prescriber before taking alcohol, sedating medications, or other CNS depressants (e.g., benzodiazepines, antipsychotics, antidepressants, etc.) because of the possible additive effects in combination with Stalevo.

Hypotension, Orthostatic Hypotension and Syncope

Advise patients that they may develop symptomatic (or asymptomatic) postural (orthostatic) hypotension or non-orthostatic hypotension while taking Stalevo. Hypotension/orthostatic hypotension may occur more frequently during initial therapy. Patients should not rise rapidly after sitting or lying down, especially if they have been doing so for prolonged periods and especially at the initiation of treatment with Stalevo.

Advise patients about the potential for syncope in patients using dopamine agonists. For this reason, inform patients about the possibility of syncope while taking Stalevo [see WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS].

Dyskinesias

Inform patients that Stalevo may cause and/or exacerbate pre-existing dyskinesias [see WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS].

Hallucinations and/or Psychotic-Like Behavior

Inform patients that hallucinations and other psychotic-like behavior can occur while taking Stalevo [see WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS].

Impulse Control and/or Compulsive Behaviors

Advise patients that they may experience impulse control and/or compulsive behaviors while taking one or more of the medications used for the treatment of Parkinson's disease, including Stalevo. Ask patients about the development of new or increased gambling urges, sexual urges, urges for uncontrolled spending, or other intense urges while being treated with Stalevo. Advise patients to inform their physician or health care provider if they experience new or increased gambling urges, increased sexual urges or other intense urges while taking Stalevo. Physicians should consider dose reduction or stopping the medication if a patient develops such urges while taking Stalevo [see WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS].

Withdrawal-Emergent Hyperpyrexia and Confusion

Advise patients that they may develop fever and confusion as part of a syndrome resembling NMS and possibly with other clinical features (e.g., muscle rigidity, autonomic dysfunction, hyper- or hypotension, etc.). This fever and confusion syndrome may particularly occur with dose reductions or withdrawal of Stalevo but may also develop after initiation of treatment. Advise patients to contact their healthcare provider if they wish to discontinue or decrease the dose of Stalevo and to contact a health care provider if they develop fever and confusion [see WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS].

Diarrhea and Colitis

Inform the patients that diarrhea may occur with Stalevo and it may have a delayed onset. Sometimes prolonged diarrhea may be caused by colitis (inflammation of the large intestine). Patients with diarrhea should drink fluids to maintain adequate hydration and monitor for weight loss. If diarrhea associated with Stalevo is prolonged, discontinuing the drug is expected to lead to resolution. If diarrhea continues after stopping Stalevo, further diagnostic investigations may be needed. In some cases, diarrhea may be associated with colitis [see WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS].

Rhabdomyolysis

Advise patients that they may develop rhabdomyolysis and myalgia if they experience prolonged motor activity including dyskinesia. This event may also be associated with fever and confusion [see WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS].

Melanoma

Advise patients with Parkinson's disease that they have a higher risk of developing melanoma. Advise patients to have their skin examined on a regular basis by a qualified healthcare provider (e.g., dermatologist) and to monitor for melanomas frequently and on a regular basis when using Stalevo [see WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS].

Nausea and Vomiting

Inform patients that Stalevo may cause nausea and vomiting may occur more frequently during initial therapy and may require dose adjustment.

Instructions for Use

Instruct patients to take Stalevo only as prescribed. Instruct patients to only take a single tablet of Stalevo at each dosing interval. Instruct patients not to take multiple tablets or additional portions of tablets to achieve a higher dose of levodopa. Advise patients not to split, crush, or chew Stalevo.

Inform the patient that Stalevo is a formulation of carbidopa/levodopa combined with entacapone that is designed to begin release of ingredients within 30 minutes after ingestion. It is important that Stalevo be taken at regular intervals according to the schedule outlined by the physician. Caution the patient not to change the prescribed dosage regimen and not to add any additional antiparkinsonian medications, including other carbidopa/levodopa preparations, without first consulting the physician.

Advise patients that “off” episodes (“wearing-off” of drug effect) occur at the end of the dosing interval but unpredictable “off” episodes may occur at any time. Advise the patient to notify a health care provider for possible treatment adjustments if such response poses a problem to the patient's everyday life.

Advise patients that dark coloration (red, brown, or black) may appear in saliva, urine, or sweat after taking Stalevo. Although the color appears to be clinically insignificant, garments may become discolored.

Advise patients that a change in diet to foods that are high in protein may delay the absorption of levodopa. Excessive acidity also delays stomach emptying, thus delaying the absorption of levodopa. Iron salts (such as in multi-vitamin tablets) may also reduce the effectiveness of Stalevo.

Pregnancy and Breastfeeding

Carbidopa and levodopa are known to affect embryo-fetal development in the rabbit and decrease the number of live pups delivered by rats. Instruct patients to notify their physicians if they become pregnant or intend to become pregnant during therapy [see Use In Specific Populations].

Carbidopa is known to be excreted into milk in rats. Because of the possibility that carbidopa and levodopa may be excreted into human milk, instruct patients to notify their physicians if they intend to breastfeed or are breastfeeding an infant [see Use in Specific Populations].

You should not use this medication if you have used an MAO inhibitor such as furazolidone (Furoxone), isocarboxazid (Marplan), phenelzine (Nardil), or tranylcypromine (Parnate) in the last 14 days.

You should not take this medication if you are allergic to carbidopa (Lodosyn), entacapone (Comtan), or levodopa (Larodopa), or if you have narrow-angle glaucoma, unusual skin lesions, or a history of skin cancer.

Tell your doctor about all of your medical conditions, especially heart disease, high blood pressure, asthma or other breathing problems, liver or kidney disease, a hormonal disease, an ulcer, glaucoma, or mental illness. Also tell your doctor about all the medications you use.

It may take up to several weeks of using carbidopa, entacapone, and levodopa before your symptoms improve. Talk with your doctor if your symptoms do not improve or if the effects of this medication seem to wear off quickly in between doses.

Do not stop using carbidopa, entacapone, and levodopa without first talking to your doctor.

Your pharmacist can provide more information about carbidopa, entacapone, and levodopa.

Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use this medication only for the indication prescribed.

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Carbidopa, Levodopa and Entacapone tablets, a combination drug consisting of levodopa, carbidopa (dopa decarboxylase inhibitor), and entacapone (catechol-O-methyltransferase-COMT inhibitor) is indicated for the treatment of Parkinson’s disease.

Carbidopa, Levodopa and Entacapone tabletscan be used:

• To substitute (with equivalent strengths of each of the three components) carbidopa/levodopa and entacapone previously administered as individual products.
• To replace carbidopa/levodopa therapy (without entacapone) when patients experience the signs and symptoms of end-of-dose “wearing-off” and when they have been taking a total daily dose of levodopa of 600 mg or less and have not been experiencing dyskinesias.