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Q. How many people care for someone with Parkinson's disease (PD)?
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A. As a care partner, you are an important part of the health care team,
which may include family members, friends, and local and national support groups.
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- In the US, 25 million people are care partners, and 25% of all households include
an adult providing care for someone over 50 years of age*
- 70% of all care partners are women†
- 60% of all care partners are over 65, and almost 25% are over 75†
- 73% of all care partners are spouses or partners of the person with PD†
- In 78% of cases, the care partner lives with the person being cared for†
- 25% of care partners help the person with PD with 5 or more
aspects of personal care, such as dressing and undressing, going to the toilet,
turning over in bed, and eating and drinking†
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Q. What is STALEVO?
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A. STALEVO contains 3 active ingredients: carbidopa, levodopa, and entacapone, and is intended for use by patients with PD who experience signs and symptoms
of end-of-dose "wearing-off." Levodopa is the most widely used and one of the most
effective drugs available for PD. Together, carbidopa and entacapone
enhance the benefits of levodopa therapy by blocking the enzymes that break down
levodopa in the periphery. Because STALEVO contains entacapone, it provides a more
persistent presence of levodopa in the body, leading to more consistent symptom
control than carbidopa/levodopa alone.
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Q. How does STALEVO work?
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A. Most of the symptoms of PD are due to a loss of dopamine in
the brain. The addition of entacapone to levodopa in STALEVO inhibits the breakdown
of levodopa and extends the duration of effect of each dose of levodopa.
STALEVO therefore provides more consistent and reliable levels of levodopa to
the brain, where it can be converted to the much-needed dopamine.
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Your loved one's results may vary. Talk to your loved one's health care professional (HCP) if you have
questions about STALEVO.
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Q. What does STALEVO do?
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A. STALEVO does more than carbidopa/levodopa alone. It has been clinically proven to
deliver more active time during the day—an average of almost an hour and a half each day (1.4 hours).
So your loved one can enjoy more time with fewer symptoms.
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Talk to your loved one's HCP if you have questions about STALEVO.
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If the person in your care is taking levodopa therapy and COMTAN® (entacapone)
200 mg tablets,
he or she might be able to switch to STALEVO, a single tablet, which contains all 3 medications:
carbidopa, levodopa, and entacapone.
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For patients with PD experiencing symptom reemergence due to levodopa "wearing-off," STALEVO can be used to replace carbidopa/levodopa.
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Q. What should I expect from STALEVO treatment?
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A. STALEVO does more than carbidopa/levodopa alone. It has been clinically
proven to deliver more active time during the day—an average of almost an hour and a half
each day (1.4 hours). So the person you care for can enjoy more time with
fewer symptoms.
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People who take STALEVO may have more active time between doses, which may
improve their daily activities.
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Q. What is the Important Safety Information for STALEVO?
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A. STALEVO is a prescription medication for the treatment of idiopathic (unknown cause) Parkinson's disease (PD) if you are experiencing a return of symptoms before your next dose ("wearing-off") of carbidopa/levodopa (only if you are taking a total daily dose of levodopa of 600 mg or less and not experiencing uncontrolled movements called dyskinesias).
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STALEVO is a tablet combining 3 medications known as carbidopa, levodopa, and entacapone, so it may be used to replace these medications if you are taking them in separate tablets.
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You should not take STALEVO with an antidepressant medication class known as nonselective monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitors. STALEVO may be used with selective MAO type B inhibitors. Make sure you tell your health care professional (HCP) about all of the medications you take, including nonprescription medications and supplements.
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Do not take STALEVO if you have a history of or currently have active skin cancer or abnormal skin growths or have an eye problem known as narrow-angle glaucoma. Patients with wide-angle glaucoma can take STALEVO but must be monitored for changes in eye pressure.
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Tell your HCP about any health problems you might have or if you experience any side effects while taking STALEVO. Tell your HCP if you: have or develop uncontrolled sudden movements (called dyskinesias); have a history of or currently have mental problems, such as psychosis or depression with thoughts of suicide; have severe heart or lung disease, asthma, kidney, liver, or gall bladder disease; have endocrine disease (a hormone disorder); or have a history of heart attacks or stomach ulcers.
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Some serious side effects that may occur with STALEVO include symptoms resembling neuroleptic malignant syndrome (a condition characterized by fever and muscle stiffness); an interaction with drugs such as isoproterenol and epinephrine that are broken down by the COMT enzyme (COMT breaks down levodopa), therefore, these drugs should be used with caution when taking STALEVO; low blood pressure upon rising rapidly after sitting or lying down with or without symptoms such as dizziness, nausea, fainting, and sweating; diarrhea, sometimes severe; colitis (inflammation of the large intestine), which may be caused by prolonged diarrhea; hallucinations; and increased dyskinesias (uncontrolled movements). Rare events may include serious muscle problems or muscle aches; high fever; confusion; a lung condition called fibrosis; and skin cancer. Your physician or dermatologist should examine your skin on a regular basis.
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Do not drive or operate other complex machinery until you know how STALEVO affects you. While taking STALEVO you may notice that your saliva, urine, or sweat may be a dark brown or brownish-orange color. Although the color is harmless, it may cause staining. Tell your HCP if you develop unusual urges to gamble, increased sexual urges, or other urges.
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The most common side effects of STALEVO include dyskinesias (uncontrolled movements), nausea, an increase in movement (called hyperkinesia), change in the color of your urine, diarrhea, and stomach pain.
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Tell your HCP if you have side effects that bother you. He or she can make adjustments that may reduce those effects. You should not quickly lower your STALEVO dose or suddenly stop taking it altogether. Be sure to take your medicine as instructed.
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Q. What do I do when I need to take a break?
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A. It's important to remember that you have needs, too, because caring
for someone with PD can be difficult, psychologically, and emotionally.
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Reach out. You will find it harder to help the person you care for
if you are tired. Turn to others for support. Keep up with hobbies,
activities, and friends.
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Stay healthy. It is as important to take care of your own health as
it is to care for the person with PD.
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Exercise. Do it with the person you care for, and eat well.
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Take a break. Find out how other people relieve stress, provide care, or
meet special needs. Go to local support groups.
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Q. What if I need support?
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Take a break. Go to local support groups. Your loved one can socialize with
peers; you can get a break:
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National Alliance for Caregiving
www.caregiving.org
Phone: 1-301-718-8444
National Family Caregivers Association
www.nfcacares.org
Phone: 1-800-896-3650
National Organization for Empowering Caregivers
www.nofec.org
Phone: 1-212-807-1204
National Parkinson Foundation: Caregivers Forum
www.parkinson.org
Phone: 1-800-327-4545
Well Spouse Association
www.wellspouse.org
Phone: 1-800-838-0879
The Parkinson Patient at Home
www.cnsonline.org/www/archive/parkins/park-02.html
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Q. Can exercise help with Parkinson's disease?
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A. Exercise can help improve mobility and endurance, making everyday activities
easier to perform. Exercise also promotes relaxation and can help reduce stress.
By making exercise part of a daily routine, the person you care for can continue
to enjoy an active lifestyle.
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Q. What do I do if symptoms come back?
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A. Consistent communication with HCPs is essential for managing your loved one's symptoms as they appear. However, managing symptoms is only one of many reasons for talking to your HCP.
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Inform your loved one's HCP as soon as you notice symptom reemergence due to levodopa "wearing-off." This may indicate that it is time for your loved one's treatment to be modified.
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Your loved one's HCP may be able to adjust the dosage of his or her medication, switch to a different medication, or add another medication. New treatment options are being researched, and scientists understand PD better every day.
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If it is time for your loved one's treatment to be modified and your HCP prescribes STALEVO, your loved one may have more active time—an average of almost an hour and a half each day (1.4 hours). With additional active time, your loved one may enjoy more time with fewer symptoms. Results may vary. Talk to your HCP if you have questions about STALEVO.
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Q. Should I keep a diary for the person I care for?
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A. One of the keys to successful management of PD is
good communication with your loved one's HCP. Each visit with your HCP is an opportunity
to discuss symptoms, track treatment progress, and plan ahead.
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