Disclaimer:
Medidex is not a provider of medical services and all information is provided for the convenience of the user. No medical decisions should be made based on the information provided on this website without first consulting a licensed healthcare provider.This website is intended for persons 18 years or older. No person under 18 should consult this website without the permission of a parent or guardian.
Duopa
Overview
What is Duopa?
DUOPA is a combination of carbidopa, an inhibitor of aromatic amino acid decarboxylation, and levodopa, an aromatic amino acid.
Carbidopa is a white, crystalline compound, slightly soluble in water, with a molecular weight of 244.2. It is designated chemically as (2S)-3-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)-2-hydrazino-2-methylpropanoic acid monohydrate. Its empirical formula is CHNO•HO, and its structural formula is:
The content of carbidopa in DUOPA is expressed in terms of anhydrous carbidopa which has a molecular weight of 226.3. The 4.63 mg/mL of anhydrous carbidopa is equivalent to 5.0 mg/mL of carbidopa.
Levodopa is a white, crystalline compound, slightly soluble in water, with a molecular weight of 197.2. It is designated chemically as (2S)-2-Amino-3-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl) propanoic acid. Its empirical formula is CHNO, and its structural formula is:
The inactive ingredients in DUOPA are carmellose sodium and purified water.
What does Duopa look like?
What are the available doses of Duopa?
Enteral Suspension: 4.63 mg carbidopa and
20 mg levodopa per mL
What should I talk to my health care provider before I take Duopa?
Pregnancy: Based on animal data,
may cause fetal harm
How should I use Duopa?
DUOPA is indicated for the treatment of motor
fluctuations in patients with advanced Parkinson’s disease.
DUOPA is administered over
a 16-hour infusion period. The daily dose is determined by individualized
patient titration and composed of:
The maximum recommended
daily dose of DUOPA is 2000 mg of the levodopa component (i.e., one
cassette per day) administered over 16 hours. At the end of the daily
16-hour infusion, patients will disconnect the pump from the PEG-J
and take their night-time dose of oral immediate-release carbidopa-levodopa
tablets.
Treatment
with DUOPA is initiated in 3 steps :
Extra Doses
DUOPA has an extra
dose function that can be used to manage acute “Off” symptoms that
are not controlled by the Morning Dose and the Continuous Dose administered
over 16 hours. The extra dose function should be set at 1 mL (20 mg
of levodopa) when starting DUOPA. If the amount of the extra dose
needs to be adjusted, it is typically done in 0.2 mL increments. The
extra dose frequency should be limited to one extra dose every 2 hours.
Administration of frequent extra doses may cause or worsen dyskinesias.
Once no further adjustments
are required to the DUOPA Morning Dose, Continuous Dose, or Extra
Dose, this dosing regimen should be administered daily. Over time,
additional changes may be necessary based on the patient’s clinical
response and tolerability.
What interacts with Duopa?
Sorry No Records found
What are the warnings of Duopa?
Sorry No Records found
What are the precautions of Duopa?
Sorry No Records found
What are the side effects of Duopa?
Sorry No records found
What should I look out for while using Duopa?
DUOPA
is contraindicated in patients who are currently taking a nonselective
monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitor (e.g., phenelzine and tranylcypromine)
or have recently (within 2 weeks) taken a nonselective MAO inhibitor.
Hypertension can occur if these drugs are used concurrently .
What might happen if I take too much Duopa?
Management
of acute overdosage with DUOPA is the same as management of acute
overdosage with levodopa. Pyridoxine is not effective in reversing
the actions of oral immediate-release carbidopa-levodopa.
In the event of an overdosage with DUOPA,
the infusion should be stopped and the pump disconnected immediately.
Administer intravenous fluids and maintain an adequate airway. Patients
should receive electrocardiographic monitoring for arrhythmias and
hypotension.
