Patients are usually given levodopa in combination with carbidopa, which delays the conversion of levodopa into dopamine until it reaches the brain, thus preventing or reducing some of the side effects that often accompany levodopa treatment. Carbidopa also reduces the amount of Levodopa required.

Parcopa, manufactured by Schwarz Pharma Inc., is a formulation of carbidopa-levodopa that dissolves on the tongue without the need for water.

How does the carbidopa-levodopa preparation work? 

Parkinson's disease originates from the degeneration of the cells that create dopamine in the brain and hence a lack of the brain's chemical signal, dopamine, and impaired mobility. Levodopa, the golden drug, turns into dopamine in the brain, fills the gap and relieves the symptoms of the disease.

Combine levodopa with carbidopa. The carbidopa prevents the transformation of levodopa into dopamine before entering the brain. This allows more levodopa to reach the brain.

Percope compared to Duficar 

Parcopa has the same active ingredients in the same dose as Duficare. The schedule of administering the medicine is also the same. The main difference is that Percova dissolves on the tongue with and without water and then it can be swallowed.

Parcofa also has inactive ingredients such as sweeteners and mint flavoring agents.

In what doses can you get the percopa? 

The parcopa can be obtained in three doses:

10/100 mg – levodopa/carbidopa

25/100 mg – levodopa/carbidopa

25/250 mg – levodopa/carbidopa

Percopa also contains phenylalanine (an amino acid) 

10/100 tablets and 25/100 tablets contain 3.4 mg of phenylalanine.

25/250 tablets contain 8.4 mg of phenylalanine.

Parkinson's patients prefer Parcopa 

According to a clinical trial, the results of which were published in the January 2005 booklet of the Clinical Therapeutics newspaper, more than twice as many Parkinson's patients who were tested prefer the Parcopa preparation, over regular levodopa - carbidopa tablets. The Percope preparation contains levodopa - carbidopa and dissolves in the mouth. The main reasons that influenced preference are: the quick response to neutralizing the OFF times, fewer interruptions in daily activities, the convenience of a nightly dose and the less noticeable feeling of using the drug.