Like all medicines, co-beneldopa can cause side effects. However, many people have no side effects or only minor ones.
Common side effects of co-beneldopa
There are things you can do to help cope with these common side effects of co-beneldopa:
Loss of appetite
If you lose your appetite, eat when you would usually expect to be hungry. It may help to eat smaller meals, more often than usual.
Feeling or being sick (nausea or vomiting)
It may help to have a low-protein snack (such as a plain biscuit or cracker) with your medicine if you're feeling or being sick.
It may help to eat smaller meals, more often than usual.
If you're being sick, have frequent small sips of water to avoid dehydration. Signs of dehydration include peeing less than usual or having strong-smelling pee.
If you keep feeling or being sick, talk to your doctor or specialist nurse. They may be able to recommend an extra medicine to help with this.
If you take the combined contraceptive pill or the progestogen-only pill and you're being sick, your contraception may not protect you from pregnancy. Check the pill packet for advice.
Change in the way things taste
Talk to your specialist nurse or doctor if this does not go away and is bothering you.
Feeling dizzy when you get up from sitting or lying down
Try getting up very slowly, or stay sitting down until you feel better.
If you still feel dizzy, lie down so you do not faint, then sit up for a while until you feel OK again.
Do not drive, cycle, or operate machinery if you feel dizzy. Do not drink alcohol as it may make you feel worse.
Problems sleeping (insomnia)
Avoid big meals, smoking, or drinking alcohol in the evening. Reduce tea and coffee and other drinks that contain caffeine.
Try not to watch TV or use your mobile phone before going to bed. Relax for an hour before bedtime.
Do not take any sleep remedies, including herbal remedies, without talking to a pharmacist, specialist nurse or doctor first.
Uncontrollable twitching, twisting or writhing movements (dyskinesias)
Let your doctor or specialist nurse know as soon as possible. They may need to adjust your dose or medicine.
Dyskinesias are more likely if you've been taking co-beneldopa for a long time or at a high dose. Talk to your doctor about reviewing your medicine if this starts to happen.
You may also notice that your pee, saliva, tongue, teeth or inside of your mouth change colour. This is normal with co-beneldopa and is not dangerous.
Keep taking the medicine but talk to your doctor or pharmacist if the advice on how to cope does not help and a side effect is still bothering you or does not go away.
Serious side effects
It's possible to have serious side effects with co-beneldopa.
Call your doctor or call 111 now if you:
- have strange or unusual thoughts, including thinking things that are not true (delusions)
- see things that are not there (hallucinations)
- have mood changes, including anxiety or depression
- keep getting infections, bruising, mouth ulcers and bleeding gums – these can be caused by a blood problem
- feel lightheaded or you faint
- start gambling, binge eating or shopping uncontrollably or have an unusually high sex drive – these can be signs of impulse control disorder
- have cravings for larger doses of co-beneldopa than you need to control your symptoms – these can be signs of dopamine dysregulation syndrome
- feel unusually sleepy or suddenly fall asleep during the day
Immediate action required: Call 999 or go to A&E now if:
- you have black poo or blood in your vomit – this can be a sign of bleeding in your stomach
- you have a fast or irregular heartbeat (palpitations)
- you have thoughts about harming yourself
Immediate action required: Call 999 now if:
- you have chest pain or severe breathing problems
- you have a seizure or fit
Do not drive yourself to A&E.
The person you speak to at 999 will give you advice about what to do.
Serious allergic reaction
In rare cases, it's possible to have a serious allergic reaction (anaphylaxis) to co-beneldopa.
Immediate action required: Call 999 now if:
- your lips, mouth, throat or tongue suddenly become swollen
- you're breathing very fast or struggling to breathe (you may become very wheezy or feel like you're choking or gasping for air)
- your throat feels tight or you're struggling to swallow
- your skin, tongue or lips turn blue, grey or pale (if you have black or brown skin, this may be easier to see on the palms of your hands or soles of your feet)
- you suddenly become very confused, drowsy or dizzy
- someone faints and cannot be woken up
- a child is limp, floppy or not responding like they normally do (their head may fall to the side, backwards or forwards, or they may find it difficult to lift their head or focus on your face)
You or the person who's unwell may also have a rash that's swollen, raised, itchy, blistered or peeling.
These can be signs of a serious allergic reaction and may need immediate treatment in hospital.
Do not drive yourself to A&E.
The person you speak to at 999 will give you advice about what to do.
Other side effects
These are not all the side effects of co-beneldopa. For a full list, see the leaflet inside your medicines packet.
Reporting side effects
You can report any suspected side effect using the Yellow Card safety scheme.
Visit the Yellow Card website for more information about reporting side effects.