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Dear Listfriends / Cyberfamily- I remember Alan Bonander giving an eloquent presentation on the need to keep carbidopa intake below 200mg per day, but I don't recall the side effects of too much carbidopa, nor what the minimum level is for maximizing the levodopa's effectiveness. I could probably undertake an archive search, but am hopeful that list members can provide a faster and more succinct answer... My dad is currently taking 1 and 1/2 Sinemet 25/100's every 3 and 1/2 hours from 7 am to 9 pm (total, 7 and 1/2 pills or 187.5 mg carbidopa) PLUS a CR at midnite and 7am (I'm not sure of the strength - it's a pink football-shaped pill) (U.S. football, that is!). If he replaces the 25/100s with 10/100s, that'd put his daily carbidopa at 75 + the CRs - probably in the right range?? My folks are in Erie, PA. Although Dad had a couple of visits with Dr. Burns at the Cleveland Clinic, he hasn't been able to make that 90 mile trip (with accompanying overnight stay) in some time, and I haven't been able to convince my mother that Dr. Burns could make med adjustment recommendations over the phone.... However, when Dad experienced freezing episodes a few months ago, the G.P. did approve changing his schedule from every 4 hours to every 3 and 1/2 on MY recommendation (based on all of yours). [I'm kicking myself that I didn't remember the carbidopa issue at that point, but it hit me like a brick this morning]. Dad had breathing problems last month & was hospitalized for a few weeks. They found a large tumor growing in his chest (outside of the right lung, but impeding on it). Its location makes it inoperable (it involves the blood vessels between heart and lung), so Dad is now home with Mom and with the help of in-home hospice services. He's been increasingly confused and hallucinating (not scary ones, fortunately, more like waking dreams of being someplace else). If adjusting his PD meds can make his final days a bit more clear-headed, I'd really like to try... Anyway, my basic nuts-n-bolts questions are: 1. What's the minimum daily carbidopa level for the levodopa to be maximally effective? 2. What are the side-effects of too much carbidopa? 3. At what level do the side-effects typically start to appear? With your help I should have the necessary ammunition to get his prescription changed - and educate at least one doctor and one pharmacy's worth of pharmacists at the same time! I'm four days behind in digest-reading, having spent the long weekend at my folks'. (It's a 400+ mile drive from the Philadelphia area). I'd appreciate it if you could direct answers to me directly (as well as to the list if you deem appropriate). My address is: [log in to unmask] Thanks so much for your input! (BTW, Dad LOVED Ivan's bar-room/day after joke....) Linda Corson Dad Bill 80/6