Lecteva (Levodopa, Carbidopa Monohydrate And Entacapone)
Complete patient guide for uses, dosage, side effects, and safety information
Prescription RequiredQuick Facts
What Is Lecteva Used For?
Lecteva is an anti-Parkinson medicine that contains three active ingredients working together to increase dopamine levels in your brain.
Primary Uses
Lecteva treats symptoms of Parkinson’s disease, including shaking of the limbs, stiffness, and slowness of movement that make it difficult to perform normal daily activities.
How It Works
Lecteva contains dopaminergic agents that work together to increase the level of dopamine in the brain. Parkinson’s disease is caused by a lack of dopamine, a natural substance produced in the brain.
How to Take Lecteva
Take Lecteva exactly as prescribed by your doctor. The dosage depends on your condition severity and tablet strength.
Dosage Instructions
People with moderate to severe Parkinson’s disease usually take 3 to 7 tablets daily. Maximum daily doses: 10 tablets for 50/12.5/200 mg through 150/37.5/200 mg strengths, 8 tablets for 175/43.75/200 mg strength, and 7 tablets for 200/50/200 mg strength. Take only one tablet at each dose – never take 2 or more tablets at once. Swallow whole with a full glass of water – do not break tablets in half. Take with food if stomach upset occurs, but avoid high-protein meals. If taking iron supplements, separate by 2-3 hours.
What If You Miss a Dose?
Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it’s almost time for your next dose (within an hour), skip the missed dose and continue with your regular schedule. Never take a double dose to make up for a forgotten dose.
Important: Never take 2 or more Lecteva tablets at any one time. Do not break tablets into halves.
Available Tablet Strengths
Side Effects
Like all medications, this medicine can cause side effects. Most are mild and temporary, but some require medical attention.
Common Side Effects
These side effects occur relatively frequently and usually don’t require emergency care:
- nausea (feeling sick)
- vomiting
- diarrhea
- stomach pain
- constipation
- dizziness
- light-headedness
- extreme sleepiness and sudden onset of sleep
- unusual and uncontrollable twitching, jerking or writhing movements
- muscle and/or joint pain
- indigestion
- urinary tract infection
- reddish-brown colored urine (harmless)
- dry mouth
- spinning sensation (vertigo)
- muscle cramps
- shakiness
- difficulty sleeping or unusual dreams
- feeling depressed or agitated
- unsteadiness when walking
- blurred vision
- seeing double
- headache
- increased sweating
- weight gain or loss
Seek immediate medical attention if you experience:
- compulsive behaviors
- confusion
- chest pain/tightness
- shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
- fast or irregular heartbeats
- rash, itching or hives
- worsening Parkinson’s symptoms
- hallucinations
- craving for large doses of Lecteva (dopamine dysregulation syndrome)
- inability to resist harmful impulses
- gastrointestinal bleeding
- bloody diarrhea with mucus
- neuroleptic malignant syndrome symptoms
- temporary paralysis or muscle weakness
- fever
- signs of anemia (tiredness, headaches, shortness of breath, dizziness, pale appearance)
- signs of liver problems (loss of appetite, feeling unwell, fever, itching, yellow skin and eyes)
Impulse Control Issues
Tell your doctor if you develop urges or cravings for behaviors unusual for you, including: excessive gambling despite serious consequences; altered or increased sexual interest and behavior; uncontrolled excessive shopping or spending; binge eating or compulsive eating; repetitive purposeless activities. Your doctor may need to review your treatments.
Important Warnings
Lecteva has several important warnings and contraindications you should be aware of before starting treatment.
Who Should Not Take Lecteva
Do not use if you: are allergic to levodopa, carbidopa, entacapone, or any ingredients; are taking MAOI medicines like phenelzine or tranylcypromine; are pregnant or breastfeeding; have liver problems; have a tumor of the adrenal gland (phaeochromocytoma); have ever had neuroleptic malignant syndrome or non-traumatic rhabdomyolysis; have unusual skin lumps, moles not examined by a doctor, or history of skin cancer/melanoma; have narrow-angle glaucoma.
Medical Conditions to Discuss
Tell your doctor if you have: depression, mental disturbances, or anti-social behavior; heart disease including irregular heartbeat; kidney or lung problems including asthma; hormonal problems; convulsions or fits; wide-angle glaucoma; stomach ulcers; gall bladder problems; inflammatory bowel disease; lactose intolerance; allergies to medicines, foods, dyes, or preservatives.
Pregnancy and Breastfeeding
Do not take Lecteva if you are pregnant or breastfeeding. Tell your doctor immediately if you become pregnant while taking this medicine. It is not known if the active ingredients pass into breast milk.
Drug Interactions
Several medications can interfere with Lecteva and affect how it works. Always tell your doctor about all medicines you’re taking.
- MAOI medicines (phenelzine, tranylcypromine)
- Dopamine D2 receptor antagonists (phenothiazines, butyrophenones, risperidone, isoniazid)
- Antibiotics (erythromycin, rifampicin, ampicillin, chloramphenicol)
- Apomorphine (Parkinson’s medicine)
- Adrenaline (in local anesthetics and allergy treatments)
- Cholestyramine (cholesterol medicine)
- Papaverine (erectile dysfunction medicine)
- Probenecid (gout prevention)
- Blood pressure medicines
- Other Parkinson’s medicines
- Depression medicines
- Psychiatric disorder medicines
- Methyldopa (blood pressure medicine)
- Isoniazid (tuberculosis medicine)
- Nausea and vomiting medicines
- Phenytoin (seizure medicine)
- Iron-containing medicines
- Warfarin (blood thinner)
Alcohol & Driving
Lecteva can affect your ability to drive and operate machinery safely. Take precautions until you know how this medicine affects you.
Alcohol
No specific alcohol warnings mentioned in the source material.
Driving and Operating Machinery
Be careful driving, operating machinery, or doing jobs requiring alertness until you know how Lecteva affects you. This medicine may increase dizziness, light-headedness, or sleepiness. Very rarely, it can cause extreme sleepiness and sudden onset of sleep during daytime activities, sometimes without warning. If you experience these symptoms, do not drive or do anything that could be dangerous.
Temperature Regulation
Watch for symptoms of neuroleptic malignant syndrome, including sudden increase in body temperature, sweating, fast heartbeat, muscle stiffness, and fluctuating blood pressure. Seek immediate medical attention if these occur.
Storage
Store Lecteva in its original container below 25°C in a cool, dry place away from moisture, heat, and sunlight. Do not store in the bathroom, near a sink, in the car, or on window sills. Keep out of reach of children in a locked cupboard at least 1.5 meters above ground. Take any unwanted or expired medicine to a pharmacy for safe disposal.
Overdose Information
If you think you have taken too much Lecteva, seek urgent medical attention immediately. Call the Poisons Information Centre at 13 11 26, contact your doctor, or go to the nearest hospital Emergency Department. Do this even if you feel fine or have no symptoms of poisoning.
Frequently Asked Questions
You may need to take Lecteva for a long time to control your Parkinson’s symptoms. Do not stop taking it without first checking with your doctor, as stopping suddenly may worsen your symptoms.
Yes, you can take Lecteva with or without food. If your stomach gets upset, take it with a meal or snack. However, avoid high-protein meals as they may reduce how much levodopa your body absorbs.
Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it’s almost time for your next dose (within an hour), skip the missed dose and take your next scheduled dose. Never take a double dose to make up for a forgotten dose.
No, do not break Lecteva tablets into halves. Always swallow the whole tablet with a full glass of water.
A reddish-brown color in your urine is a harmless side effect of Lecteva. This is normal and not a cause for concern.
If you take iron-containing medicines, take them at least 2-3 hours before or after your Lecteva dose. Taking them together may reduce iron absorption.
If you notice Lecteva isn’t working as well as it used to, tell your doctor. They may need to adjust your dose or treatment plan.
Important Disclaimer
This information is intended for general educational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice. Always consult your healthcare provider or pharmacist before starting, stopping, or changing any medication.
If you think you may have a medical emergency, call your doctor or emergency services immediately.