Before Using This Medicine

Diet—Since protein may interfere with the body's response to levodopa, high protein diets should be avoided. Intake of normal amounts of protein should be spaced equally throughout the day, or taken as directed by your doctor.

Pregnancy—Studies have not been done in pregnant women. However, studies in animals have shown that levodopa affects the baby's growth both before and after birth if given during pregnancy.

Breast-feeding—Levodopa and benserazide passes into breast milk and may cause unwanted side effects in the nursing baby. Also, levodopa may reduce the flow of breast milk.

Children—Studies on this medicine have been done only in adult patients, and there is no specific information comparing use of levodopa or benserazide in children with use in other age groups.

Other medicines—Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are taking levodopa and benserazide, it is especially important that your doctor and pharmacist know if you are taking any of the following:

• Anesthetics
• Antihypertensive agents—May decrease blood pressure even more as seen with levodopa therapy
• Monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitor activity (isocarboxazid [e.g., Marplan], phenelzine [e.g., Nardil], procarbazine [e.g., Matulane], selegiline [e.g., Eldepryl], tranylcypromine [e.g., Parnate])—Taking levodopa while you are taking or within 2 weeks of taking monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitors may cause sudden extremely high blood pressure
• Reserpine or
• Phenothiazines or
• Tricyclic antidepressants—Levodopa and benserazide therapy may make the patients depression worse or increase the risk of suicidal tendencies

Other medical problems—The presence of other medical problems may affect the use of levodopa and benserazide. Make sure you tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:

• Blood disorder or
• History of heart attack or arrhythmias or
• Kidney disease or
• Liver disease or
• Melanoma (a type of skin cancer) (or history of) or
• Mental illness—Levodopa may make the condition worse
• Seizure disorders, such as epilepsy (history of)—The risk of seizures may be increased
• Stomach ulcer (history of)—The ulcer may occur again