Carbidopa / levodopa and Drowsiness: What Users Say

• and...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• October 28, 2019

For Parkinson's Disease "I have been using Rytary for a year. 1 pill 6 times a day. The past 2 months, I have had hallucinations, falling asleep at breakfast and all during the day. Not able to function very well, falling asleep with hot or cold drinks in my hand and not knowing I was spilling liquid everywhere. The hallucinations are very real, vivid, and frightening. Rytary is not helping me physically at all. Up until 2 months ago, it was great, and now it has turned against me!"

• nur...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 29, 2017

For Parkinson's Disease "The initial results seemed to improve at times, compared with Sinemet, however, the side effects had a devastating impact on my family relationships. Out of nowhere, I became a compulsive gambler. Other issues of sleeplessness, hypersexuality, anxiety, just to name a few. The minute I stopped using Rytary, all these issues went away. To be fair, impulse control issues were a concern with the regular Sinemet product, but I was always able to stop the above negative behaviors. Rytary's warning label spells out these side effects, so anyone with impulse control problems should be on guard when trying this product."

• Amy...
• February 20, 2012

For Restless Legs Syndrome "I have had restless legs syndrome for years due to iron deficiency. I took Sinemet for about a year, and it seemed to work great for me. However, I could not take the full or even half of the dose because it really made me feel drowsy the following day, so I would break it up and take a very small piece of the pill. Also, if you don't go to bed after taking it and stay up for a while, it can have the adverse effect on you. Makes you really sleepy, but makes your restless legs symptoms worse. Good luck!"

• You...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• November 13, 2017

For Parkinson's Disease "I've been on Rytary since 2015 and at times was on 5 pills 4 times a day of the 48.75-195 dosage. Partial neuroleptic seizures were a result, mild psychosis, paranoia, anxiety, mood swings, depression, dyskinesia, dystonia, impulse control, sleeplessness, among others, all things I've dealt with at some point along the way. I'm now on 3 pills 5 times a day, with a small dose of 2 mg Artane in between 4 times a day. I have not been able to really lock down whatever makes it work. It is wildly inconsistent, but when it's on, it's on, and I get some normal time. Certain strains of medical marijuana help increase the efficacy of this drug, kicking in sooner and can give me up to 6-7 hours of normal time instead of 1 hour to kick in and 1-2 hours normal time."