Parcopa

Parcopa is a medication approved for treating Parkinson's disease and Parkinson-like symptoms that are caused by encephalitis, manganese poisoning, or carbon monoxide poisoning. A deficiency of a certain brain chemical (dopamine) is thought to be responsible for many of the symptoms of Parkinson's disease. Parcopa works by increasing the amount of dopamine in the brain. Possible side effects include nausea, confusion, and hallucinations.

 

What Is Parcopa?

Parcopa® (orally disintegrating carbidopa-levodopa) is a prescription medication used to treat Parkinson's disease. It is also approved to treat Parkinsonism (Parkinson-like symptoms) due to encephalitis (inflammation or infection of the brain), manganese poisoning, or carbon monoxide poisoning. Parcopa tablets are designed to dissolve rapidly on the tongue, without any need for water.
 
(Click Parcopa Uses for more information, including possible off-label uses.)
 

Who Makes Parcopa?

Parcopa is made by Schwarz Pharma.
 

How Does Parcopa Work?

A deficiency of dopamine (caused by a loss of dopamine-producing cells) in certain parts of the brain may be responsible for many of the symptoms of Parkinson's disease. Although it would make sense to give dopamine itself to help treat Parkinson's, this does not work, as dopamine cannot cross the blood-brain barrier to reach the brain. Levodopa is a precursor of dopamine, which means that the body can use levodopa to make dopamine. Unlike dopamine, levodopa crosses the blood-brain barrier.
 
Levodopa is almost always given in combination with carbidopa. Carbidopa delays the conversion of levodopa into dopamine until it reaches the brain, preventing or diminishing some of the side effects (especially nausea and vomiting) that often accompany levodopa therapy. Carbidopa also reduces the amount of levodopa needed for Parkinson's disease treatment.
 
Because Parcopa tablets are designed to dissolve rapidly on the tongue, they can be especially useful for people who have difficulty swallowing, a problem common in people with Parkinson's disease.
 
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Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD; Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD;