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hi linda you wrote: >Would someone explain to me what these Sinemet doses >(eg. 25/100 and 50/200) means? My mom says that Dad >is taking 50/200 four times a day. >That sounds like a lot. Is it? >Thanks. >a "Newbie" i have re-posted a more detailed explanation below, but briefly, the two numbers refer to the two medications included in sinemet the first number is the amount of carbidopa in each tablet the second number is the amount of levodopa in each tablet a parkie may need different amounts of levodopa as time marches on but the optimum daily dose of carbidopa is said to be 75-150 mg daily so the different proportions available in sinemet allow some flexibility in 'getting the mix right' it sounds like your dad is taking sinemet controlled release [CR] 50/200 which means that, daily, he is getting: 4 x 50 = 200 mg carbidopa, less 25% [?] = 250 mg carbidopa 4 x 200 = 800 mg levodopa, less 25% = 600 mg levodopa *** i understand that with the controlled release version of sinemet 25-30% of the med is effectively 'lost' but i am not sure if that applies to the levodopa alone or to both the levodopa and the carbidopa... anyone else? *** re carbidopa, it sounds 'spot on' re levodopa, this sounds like a lot for a newbie but maybe your dad is an 'old hand' at this game... and his daughter is the newbie... !?! your cyber-sis in sinemetization janet ----------------------------------------------- Date: Mon, 11 Aug 1997 11:30:43 -0400 From: janet paterson <[log in to unmask]> Subject: Re: SINEMET 25/100 switched to 10/100 ----------------------------------------------- hi to ivan and joanna; the best med for dealing with pd symptoms is levodopa combined with an extracerebral decarboxylase inhibitor 'Sinemet' is available in the usa and in the u.k. and combines levodopa with carbidopa 'Madopar' is available in europe and combines levodopa with benseraside sinemet is available in different proportions: 25/100 = 25mg carbidopa/100mg levopdopa 10/100 = 10mg carbidopa/100mg levodopa we all know that the levodopa is intended to replace the lost dopamine in our brains the carbidopa is intended to reduce the nausea and other side effects that levodopa will cause if taken by itself the amount of levodopa that we require depends on our personal sistuation re symptoms the amount of carbidopa recommended is 75 mg per day minimum: the Young Parkinson's Handbook advises a range of daily dosage of 75-150 mg carbidopa the reason sinemet is offered in different proportions is to allow adjustment and fine tuning of your daily intake of both levodopa and carbidopa for example several years ago, when i was suffering ongoing stomach problems my sinemet intake was 5 x 10/100 daily: carbidopa = 5 x 10 = 50 mg daily levodopa = 5 x 100 = 500 mg daily my pharmacist, and later my g.p., advised that my carbidopa level was too low and was probably adding to the nausea situation: so my sinemet was adjusted to 2 x 25/100 and 3 x 10/100 daily: carbidopa = 25+25+10+10+10 = 80 mg daily levodopa = 5 x 100 = 500 mg daily at the moment my sinemet intake is 9 x 10/100 daily: carbidopa = 9 x 10 = 90 mg daily levodopa = 9 x 100 = 900 mg daily if i were to add mirapex to my 'chemical stew' and if i achieved a 25% reduction in my need for levodopa: the sinemet might change to 1 x 25/100 and 6 x 10/100 daily: carbidopa = 25+10+10+10+10+10+10 = 85 mg daily levodopa = 7 x 100 = 700 mg daily i hope this helps the more we know about our meds the better knowledge is power with love from your syber-sis janet ----------------------------------------------- janet [log in to unmask]