A patient newly diagnosed with Parkinson's disease has been given a prescription for levodopa-carbidopa (Sinemet ).The patient comments,however,that a friend was given a prescription for "plain levodopa." What should the nurse explain to this patient about her prescription?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The addition of carbidopa allows for more of the levodopa to reach the site of action without being broken down.Thus,lower doses of levodopa are needed,and the combination is more efficient in increasing the dopamine level in the brain.Dopamine,unlike levodopa,cannot cross the blood-brain barrier.Drug-food interactions with levodopa therapy alone are not a concern.If a substance interacts with levodopa,it will also interact with the combination of levodopa-carbidopa because the levodopa is the common component in both drugs.

A Patient Newly Diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease Has Been Given