Duopa vs. Rytary

Duopa (carbidopa and levodopa) and Rytary (carbidopa and levodopa) both contain an inhibitor of aromatic amino acid decarboxylation and an aromatic amino acid used to treat motor fluctuations in patients with advanced Parkinson's disease.

Rytary is also used to treat post-encephalitic Parkinsonism and Parkinsonism that may follow carbon monoxide intoxication or manganese intoxication.

Side effects of Duopa and Rytary that are similar include nausea, constipation, involuntary muscle movements, anxiety, dizziness, and sleep problems.

Side effects of Duopa that are different from Rytary include complication of device insertion, incision site redness, depression, swelling of legs and feet, high blood pressure, upper respiratory tract infection, mouth and throat pain, confusion, fever, rash, diarrhea, and indigestion.

Side effects of Rytary that are different from Duopa include headache, abnormal dreams, dry mouth, vomiting, and low blood pressure and dizziness upon standing (orthostatic hypotension).

Both Duopa and Rytary may interact with monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs), phenothiazines, butyrophenones, risperidone, metoclopramide, isoniazid, and iron salts or multi-vitamins containing iron salts.

Duopa may also interact with high blood pressure medications, papaverine, and high protein diets.

Withdrawal symptoms may occur if you suddenly stop taking Duopa or Rytary.

Common side effects of Duopa include:

• complication of device insertion,
• nausea,
• depression,
• swelling of legs and feet,
• high blood pressure,
• upper respiratory tract infection,
• mouth and throat pain,
• incision site redness,
• constipation,
• involuntary muscle movements,
• confusion,
• anxiety,
• dizziness,
• sleep problems,
• fever,
• rash,
• diarrhea, and
• indigestion

Common side effects of Rytary include:

• nausea,
• dizziness,
• headache,
• insomnia,
• abnormal dreams,
• dry mouth,
• involuntary movements,
• anxiety,
• constipation,
• vomiting, and
• low blood pressure and dizziness upon standing (orthostatic hypotension)

Duopa (carbidopa and levodopa) is a combination of an inhibitor of aromatic amino acid decarboxylation and an aromatic amino acid used to treat motor fluctuations in patients with advanced Parkinson's disease.

Rytary (carbidopa and levodopa) is a combination an inhibitor of aromatic amino acid decarboxylation and an aromatic amino acid, used for the treatment of Parkinson's disease, post-encephalitic Parkinsonism, and Parkinsonism that may follow carbon monoxide intoxication or manganese intoxication.

Duopa may interact with MAO inhibitors, high blood pressure medications, phenothiazines, butyrophenones, risperidone, metoclopramide, papaverine, isoniazid, iron salts or multi-vitamins containing iron salts, and high protein diets. Tell your doctor all medications and supplements you use.

Rytary may interact with MAO inhibitors, phenothiazines, butyrophenones, risperidone, metoclopramide, isoniazid, iron salts, or multi-vitamins containing iron salts. Tell your doctor all medications and supplements you use.

The maximum recommended daily dose of Duopa is 2000 mg of the levodopa component (i.e., one cassette per day) administered over 16 hours.

The recommended starting dosage of Rytary is 23.75 mg/95 mg taken orally three times a day for the first 3 days. On the fourth day of treatment, the dosage of Rytary may be increased to 36.25 mg/145 mg taken three times a day.