Description

Idiopathic Parkinson’s disease (all stages)
Post‑encephalitic parkinsonism
Symptomatic parkinsonism due to manganese intoxication, carbon monoxide poisoning, or cerebral arteriosclerosis
Off‑label use: Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS)

Levodopa: A precursor of dopamine. It crosses the blood–brain barrier and is converted to dopamine, improving motor function.
Benserazide: A peripheral decarboxylase inhibitor. It prevents premature conversion of levodopa to dopamine outside the brain, increasing levodopa’s availability to the central nervous system.

Adults (Parkinson’s disease):
- Initial: 50 mg levodopa (with benserazide) 3–4 times daily.
- Advanced stage: 100 mg levodopa 3 times daily.
- Dose may be increased by 100 mg/day once or twice weekly.
- Effective range: 400–800 mg/day in divided doses.
Patients previously on levodopa alone: Start with 10–15% of the previous dose.
Patients on other levodopa + decarboxylase inhibitor therapy: Withdraw old therapy for 12 hours before starting Aparkin.

Common: Nausea, vomiting, dizziness, insomnia, dyskinesia (involuntary movements).
Less common: Arrhythmia, psychiatric disturbances (hallucinations, confusion).