Stalevo (carbidopa/levodopa/entacapone) is a prescription drug used to treat Parkinson’s disease. The drug comes as an oral tablet. Various factors determine your dosage.

Stalevo is used to treat Parkinson’s disease in adults in certain situations, including:

  • when drug effects wear off for people taking carbidopa/levodopa without entacapone. Stalevo is prescribed when your total daily dosage of levodopa is 600 milligrams (mg) or less, and you’ve had no involuntary muscle movements.
  • when switching from two tablets (one containing carbidopa/levodopa and the other containing entacapone) to one tablet containing all three drugs.

Stalevo contains the following active ingredients:

  • carbidopa, an aromatic amino acid decarboxylation inhibitor
  • levodopa, an aromatic amino acid
  • entacapone, a catechol-O-methyltransferase inhibitor

This article describes the dosages of Stalevo, as well as its strengths and how to take it. To learn more about Stalevo, see this in-depth article.

This section describes the usual dosages of Stalevo. Keep reading to learn more.

What is Stalevo’s form?

Stalevo comes as a tablet you swallow.

What strengths does Stalevo come in?

Stalevo comes in multiple strengths. These include:

  • Stalevo 50: 12.5 mg carbidopa/50 mg levodopa/200 mg entacapone
  • Stalevo 75: 18.75 mg carbidopa/75 mg levodopa/200 mg entacapone
  • Stalevo 100: 25 mg carbidopa/100 mg levodopa/200 mg entacapone
  • Stalevo 125: 31.25 mg carbidopa/125 mg levodopa/200 mg entacapone
  • Stalevo 150: 37.5 mg carbidopa/150 mg levodopa/200 mg entacapone
  • Stalevo 200: 50 mg carbidopa/200 mg levodopa/200 mg entacapone

What are the usual dosages of Stalevo?

Your doctor will determine your dosage of Stalevo based on your symptoms and other individual factors. The information below describes dosages that are commonly used or recommended. But be sure to take the dose your doctor prescribes. They’ll determine the best dosage to fit your needs.

Dosage for Parkinson’s disease

The starting dosage of Stalevo for adults with Parkinson’s disease is typically based on the dosage of carbidopa/levodopa with or without entacapone that you’ve been taking. For example, if you were taking one carbidopa/levodopa 18.75-mg/75-mg tablet and one entacapone 200-mg tablet, your doctor will likely prescribe one tablet of Stalevo 75.

In most cases, you’ll take Stalevo several times per day. Your doctor will monitor you closely when you begin treatment and adjust your dosage if needed to best manage your Parkinson’s disease symptoms.

The maximum number of Stalevo 200 tablets you’d take in a 24-hour period is six. The maximum number of any other Stalevo tablet strengths (50, 75, 100, 125, and 150) you’d take per day is eight.

Is Stalevo used long term?

Yes, Stalevo is usually a long-term treatment. If you and your doctor determine it’s safe and effective for treating your condition, you’ll likely take it long term.

Dosage adjustments

In some cases, you may need dosage adjustments for Stalevo. For example, if you have liver damage, your doctor will monitor you closely and may adjust your dosage of Stalevo as needed.

If you take certain medications, such as CYP2C9 inhibitors or inducers, your doctor will likely adjust your dosage of Stalevo. CYP2C9 is a type of liver enzyme that helps break down medications in your body. CYP2C9 inhibitors and inducers can interact with Stalevo, increasing or decreasing the level of Stalevo in your system.

If you have questions about your dosage of Stalevo and whether you need dosage adjustments, talk with your doctor.

The dosage of Stalevo your doctor prescribes may depend on several factors. These include:

  • the severity and frequency of your Parkinson’s disease symptoms
  • other medications you take
  • how you respond to treatment with Stalevo
  • other conditions you may have (see the “Dosage adjustments” section above)

Stalevo is available as an oral tablet that you can take with or without food. Note that a high protein, high fat, or high calorie meal can slow or reduce Stalevo absorption after you take a dose.

Try to take your doses around the same times each day to keep a steady level of the drug in your body.

Do not cut, chew, or crush Stalevo tablets. Swallow them whole. If you have trouble swallowing tablets, see this article for tips on taking this form of medication.

For information on the expiration, storage, and disposal of Stalevo, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Accessible drug containers and labels

Some pharmacies provide medication labels that:

  • have large print
  • use braille
  • feature a code you can scan with a smartphone to change the text to audio

Your doctor or pharmacist may be able to recommend pharmacies that offer these accessibility features if your current pharmacy doesn’t.

Let your pharmacist know if you have trouble opening medication bottles. They may have tips to help or be able to supply Stalevo in an easy-open container.

If you miss a dose of Stalevo, take it as soon as you remember. But if it’s almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and take your next dose at its usual time. If you’re not sure whether you should take a missed dose, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Do not take two doses of Stalevo to make up for a missed dose. This can increase your risk of side effects from the drug.

If you need help remembering to take your dose of Stalevo on time, try using a medication reminder. This can include setting an alarm or downloading a reminder app on your phone.

Do not take more Stalevo than your doctor prescribes, as this can lead to harmful effects.

Symptoms of overdose

Symptoms caused by an overdose can include:

What to do in case you take too much Stalevo

Call your doctor right away if you think you’ve taken too much Stalevo. You can also call 800-222-1222 to reach America’s Poison Centers or use its online resource. But if you have severe symptoms, immediately call 911 (or your local emergency number) or go to the nearest emergency room.

It’s not known whether taking Stalevo can lead to physical dependence. This is when your body gets used to a drug and needs it for you to function as usual. But suddenly stopping Stalevo can cause worsening of Parkinson’s disease symptoms and serious side effects that are similar to neuroleptic malignant syndrome (NMS). Examples of NMS symptoms include:

Before you end your Stalevo treatment, your doctor may slowly lower your dosage over time. This can help reduce the risk of withdrawal symptoms after you stop treatment.

If you have withdrawal symptoms after stopping Stalevo, talk with your doctor. They can recommend ways to ease these symptoms.

Below are answers to some commonly asked questions about Stalevo’s dosage.

What is the maximum dosage of Stalevo?

Your doctor will decide the maximum dosage of Stalevo for you based on several factors. These include the severity of your condition, other medications you’re taking, side effects you experience, and how your condition responds to Stalevo.

The maximum daily dosage is based on the amount of entacapone in Stalevo tablets. Based on the drug’s studies, the daily maximum dosage of entacapone is 1,600 mg.

See the “Dosage for Parkinson’s disease” section above for more information.

How long does it take for Stalevo to start working?

Stalevo starts to work within about 30 minutes of taking a dose. Your doctor will monitor you during treatment to be sure the drug is effectively treating your condition. They’ll adjust your dose if needed to manage your symptoms. Talk with them if you have other questions about what to expect from Stalevo treatment.

The sections above describe the usual dosages provided by Stalevo’s manufacturer. If your doctor recommends this drug, they’ll prescribe the dosage that’s right for you. Do not change your dosage of Stalevo without their recommendation. Only take Stalevo exactly as prescribed.

Talk with your doctor if you have questions or concerns about your current dosage. Examples of questions you may want to ask include:

  • Do I have a higher risk of side effects with the maximum dose of Stalevo?
  • How does the dosage of Stalevo compare with that of Zelapar (selegiline hydrochloride)?
  • Will I experience withdrawal symptoms if you lower my dosage of Stalevo?

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Disclaimer: Healthline has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.