Levodopa oral inhalation powder

What is this medication?

LEVODOPA (lee voe DOE pa) is used to treat 'off' episodes in advanced Parkinson's disease. These episodes affect your ability to move or perform tasks.

This medicine may be used for other purposes; ask your health care provider or pharmacist if you have questions.

COMMON BRAND NAME(S): INBRIJA

What should I tell my care team before I take this medication?

They need to know if you have any of these conditions:

• glaucoma
• have trouble controlling your muscles
• heart disease
• if you often drink alcohol
• liver disease
• lung or breathing disease, like asthma
• mental illness
• narcolepsy
• sleep apnea
• stomach or intestine problems
• an unusual or allergic reaction to levodopa, other medicines, foods, dyes, or preservatives
• pregnant or trying to get pregnant
• breast-feeding

How should I use this medication?

This medicine is used in a special inhaler. Do NOT swallow the capsules. Follow the directions on the prescription label. Do not use it more often than directed. Do not stop taking except on your doctor's advice. Make sure that you are using your inhaler correctly. Ask your doctor or health care provider if you have any questions.

Talk to your pediatrician about the use of this medicine in children. Special care may be needed.

Overdosage: If you think you have taken too much of this medicine contact a poison control center or emergency room at once.

NOTE: This medicine is only for you. Do not share this medicine with others.

What if I miss a dose?

This does not apply. This medicine is not for regular use.

What may interact with this medication?

Do not take this medicine with any of the following medications:

• MAOIs like Marplan, Nardil, and Parnate

This medicine may also interact with the following medications:

• antihistamines for allergy, cough, and cold
• antipsychotics like risperidone and haloperidol
• certain medicines for anxiety or sleep
• certain medicines for depression like amitriptyline, fluoxetine, sertraline
• certain medicines for seizures like phenobarbital, primidone
• general anesthetics like halothane, isoflurane, methoxyflurane, propofol
• iron salts or multivitamins with iron salts
• isoniazid
• linezolid
• local anesthetics like lidocaine, pramoxine, tetracaine
• medicines that relax muscles for surgery
• metoclopramide
• narcotic medicines for pain
• phenothiazines like chlorpromazine, mesoridazine, prochlorperazine, thioridazine
• rasagiline
• safinamide
• selegiline
• yohimbine

This list may not describe all possible interactions. Give your health care provider a list of all the medicines, herbs, non-prescription drugs, or dietary supplements you use. Also tell them if you smoke, drink alcohol, or use illegal drugs. Some items may interact with your medicine.

What should I watch for while using this medication?

Visit your health care professional for regular checks on your progress. Tell your health care professional if your symptoms do not start to get better or if they get worse. Do not stop taking except on your health care professional's advice. You may develop a severe reaction. Your health care professional will tell you how much medicine to take.

You may get drowsy or dizzy. Do not drive, use machinery, or do anything that needs mental alertness until you know how this drug affects you. Do not stand or sit up quickly, especially if you are an older patient. This reduces the risk of dizzy or fainting spells. Alcohol may interfere with the effect of this medicine. Avoid alcoholic drinks.

When taking this medicine, you may fall asleep without notice. You may be doing activities like driving a car, talking, or eating. You may not feel drowsy before it happens. Contact your health care provider right away if this happens to you.

There have been reports of increased sexual urges or other strong urges such as gambling while taking this medicine. If you experience any of these while taking this medicine, you should report this to your healthcare professional as soon as possible.

What side effects may I notice from receiving this medication?

Side effects that you should report to your doctor or health care professional as soon as possible:

• allergic reactions like skin rash, itching or hives, swelling of the face, lips, or tongue
• breathing problems
• changes in emotions or moods
• changes in vision
• eye pain
• falling asleep during normal activities like driving
• fast, irregular heartbeat
• hallucinations
• new or increased gambling urges, sexual urges, uncontrolled spending, binge or compulsive eating, or other urges
• signs and symptoms of infection like fever; chills; cough; sore throat
• signs and symptoms of low blood pressure like dizziness; feeling faint or lightheaded, falls; unusually weak or tired
• trouble passing urine
• uncontrollable movements of the arms, face, head, mouth, neck, or upper body

Side effects that usually do not require medical attention (report to your doctor or health care professional if they continue or are bothersome):

• cough during or after using inhaler
• dark color to urine, saliva, sweat, or other body fluids
• headache
• nausea

This list may not describe all possible side effects. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Where should I keep my medication?

Keep out of the reach of children.

Store at room temperature between 20 and 25 degrees C (68 and 77 degrees F). Keep capsules in the foil pack until you are ready to use. Do not store capsules inside the inhaler for a future dose. Keep the inhaler and capsules dry. Throw away the inhaler after all capsules in the carton have been used. Use the new inhaler that comes with your prescription refill. Throw away any unused medicine after the expiration date.

NOTE: This sheet is a summary. It may not cover all possible information. If you have questions about this medicine, talk to your doctor, pharmacist, or health care provider.