Does dopamine have metabolic and nutritional side effects?

The main side effect of dopamine is that it affects the blood and lymphatic systems, causing thrombocytopenia and leukocytopenia in patients, thus affecting the normal function of the body. A small number of patients cannot withstand the strong adverse reactions after taking dopamine, and they become emotionally agitated and have excessive hallucinations. In severe cases, they may also experience anxiety and insomnia, as well as paranoia and transient neurological dysfunction. Therefore, dopamine cannot be mixed with some drugs and should be taken with precautions while taking the drugs.

【 Adverse Reactions 】

1. Blood and lymphatic system: Hemolytic anemia, transient leukopenia and thrombocytopenia have been reported in very rare cases. Therefore, when using levodopa-containing drugs for long-term treatment, blood cells and liver and kidney function should be checked regularly.

2. Metabolism and Nutrition: Anorexia has been reported.

3. Psychiatric symptoms: Patients treated with Madopar may experience depression, but this may also be a clinical manifestation of patients with Parkinson's disease and restless legs syndrome. Agitation, anxiety, insomnia, hallucinations, delusions, and transient disorientation may occur in elderly patients or those with a similar medical history.

4. Nervous system: Individual cases have been reported of loss of taste or taste disturbance. Later in treatment, movement disorders (such as chorea or athetosis) may develop and are usually eliminated or tolerated by reducing the drug dose. As treatment time increases, fluctuations in the therapeutic response may also occur, including freezing episodes, end-of-dose exacerbations, and "on-off" phenomena. It can usually be eliminated or tolerated by adjusting the dose or giving small, repeated doses, and then the dose can be gradually increased to enhance the therapeutic effect. Madopar use has been associated with somnolence and, in rare cases, excessive daytime hypnosis or sleep onset.

5. Heart: Arrhythmia may occur occasionally.

6. Vascular: Orthostatic hypotension may occur occasionally. Reducing the dose of Madopar usually improves orthostatic hypotension.

7. Gastrointestinal tract: Nausea, vomiting and diarrhea have been reported during the use of Madopar. Gastrointestinal adverse reactions mainly occur in the initial stage of treatment and can be basically controlled by taking the drug with food or drink or slowly increasing the dose.

【 Taboo 】

1. Madopar is contraindicated in patients with known hypersensitivity to levodopa, benserazide or their excipients.

2. It is prohibited to use Madopar in combination with non-selective monoamine oxidase inhibitors, but selective monoamine oxidase B inhibitors (such as selegiline and rasagiline) and selective monoamine oxidase A inhibitors (such as moclobemide) are not prohibited from being used in combination. (See the inner package insert for details)

[ Precautions ] Patients should not take monoamine oxidase inhibitors during treatment with Madopar. Madopar may enhance the effects of sympathomimetics taken concomitantly. Therefore, close monitoring of the cardiovascular system is also essential. The dose of sympathomimetic drugs should also be reduced. Other anti-Parkinson drugs should not be stopped abruptly at the start of Madopar treatment because their effects take at least several days to take effect. In some cases, the dosage of other drugs may need to be gradually reduced over time. Patients with myocardial infarction, coronary artery insufficiency or arrhythmia should undergo regular cardiovascular examinations (especially electrocardiograms).