Stalevo®
levodopa + carbidopa + entacapone tablets
Key points about Stalevo
- Stalevo is used to treat Parkinson’s disease.
- Stalevo contains 3 medicines in 1 tablet – levodopa + carbidopa + entacapone.
- Find out how to take it safely and the possible side effects.

Stalevo is a combination of 3 medicines in 1 tablet – levodopa, carbidopa and entacapone. They're used together to treat the symptoms of Parkinson’s disease such as tremor, shakiness, stiffness, and difficulty moving.
Levodopa works by changing into dopamine, a chemical in the brain that helps control movement. This helps to restore the level of dopamine in the brain.
Carbidopa stops levodopa from changing to dopamine in areas of the body that aren’t the brain. This means more levodopa can enter the brain. It also helps to lessen some of the side effects such as nausea (feeling sick) and vomiting (being sick).
Entacapone blocks an enzyme that breaks down levodopa. This allows the levodopa to last longer so it doesn't wear off before the next dose.
Levodopa becomes less effective over time. This is because it treats the symptoms of Parkinson's but can’t stop the dopamine-producing cells from being lost. As these cells are lost you will continue to get symptoms and need more frequent doses over time.
Your brain can’t become resistant to levodopa. People with Parkinson’s will benefit from medications containing levodopa throughout their lifetime.
In Aotearoa New Zealand Stalevo is only available on a prescription from a prescriber.
In Aotearoa New Zealand Stalevo is available as tablets in 4 different strengths depending on the amount of levodopa, carbidopa and entacapone in each tablet:
- Stalevo 50 mg / 12.5 mg / 200 mg
- Stalevo 100 mg / 25 mg / 200 mg
- Stalevo 150 mg / 37.5 mg / 200 mg
- Stalevo 200 mg / 50 mg / 200 mg
Image credit: Healthify He Puna Waiora
Check with your healthcare provider which strength you’re taking. If your medicine looks different to what you were expecting, ask your pharmacist about it.
- The dose and how often you take Stalevo will be different for different people and depends on your symptoms of Parkinson’s disease and any medicine you may have been taking for Parkinson’s before.
- The dose prescribed for you may start low and change depending on your symptoms.
- Over time, you may change how often you take each dose or change to a stronger tablet.
- Only take 1 tablet for each dose. How often you take 1 tablet may change but the maximum daily dose of the ingredient levodopa is 1500 mg.
- Always take your Stalevo exactly as your doctor has told you. The pharmacy label on your medicine will tell you how much Stalevo to take, how often to take it and any special instructions.
- Take the tablet whole: Swallow your tablets whole with water. Don’t cut, crush or chew them.
- Timing: Take your tablets at the same times each day.
- Food: You can take Stalevo with or without food, but it’s best NOT to take doses immediately after a large meal.
- Protein: For some people with Parkinson’s, protein (which is found mainly in meat, fish, eggs, cheese, beans and pulses) seems to affect how well the body absorbs this medicine. It may be better not to take your tablet near a meal with protein. Talk to your healthcare provider if you think this applies to you.
- Missed dose: If you forget to take your dose and there’s more than an hour until your next dose, take the dose now and the next dose at the usual time. If there’s less than an hour until your next dose, take the dose now and the next dose in 1 hour. Then take your following doses at the usual time. Never take double the dose. If you’re not sure what to do, ask your healthcare provider.
- It's important to take it as prescribed: See tips to help you remember to take your medicines regularly.
Here are some things to know when you're taking Stalevo. Other things may be important as well, so ask your healthcare provider what you should know about.
- The effects of Stalevo don't occur straight away: It may take up to 3 months before you feel the full effects of the medicine.
- Alcohol: Stalevo can make you feel dizzy. Limit or avoid drinking alcohol while taking Stalevo as it may make it worse.
- Driving: Stalevo can make you feel dizzy. Be careful when driving or using tools until you know how this medicine affects you.
- Other medicines: Stalevo interacts with some medicines (eg, MAOI antidepressants and phenytoin), herbal supplements and rongoā Māori, so check with your healthcare provider before starting Stalevo and before starting any new products.
- Iron: If you also take iron supplements, take them at least 2 hours before or after you take your Stalevo.
- Don't stop taking Stalevo suddenly: Talk to your doctor before stopping.
- Keep taking Stalevo regularly: Treatment with Stalevo is usually long-term. You should continue to take it unless you're advised by your prescriber to stop. Talk to your healthcare provider before stopping as the dose may need to be gradually reduced before stopping completely. This may help reduce the possibility of withdrawal symptoms such as muscle stiffness, fever and mental changes.
- Monitoring: You may have your weight checked and blood tests to check how well your heart, kidneys and liver are working.
- Pregnancy or breastfeeding: Talk to your healthcare provider if you're pregnant, planning a pregnancy or want to breastfeed.
Like all medicines, Stalevo can cause side effects, although not everyone gets them. Often side effects improve as your body gets used to the new medicine.
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Read more about medicines and side effects and reporting a reaction you think might be a side effect.
The following link has more information on Stalevo.
Stalevo(external link) Medsafe Consumer Information Sheet, NZ
Brochures
Medicines and side effects(external link) Healthify He Puna Waiora, NZ, 2024
5 questions to ask about your medications(external link) Health Quality and Safety Commission, NZ, 2019 English(external link), te reo Māori(external link)
Apps
Medication reminder apps
Parkinson’s apps
Swallowing difficulty apps
References
- levodopa + carbidopa + entacapone(external link) New Zealand Formulary
- Stalevo(external link) Medsafe datasheet, NZ
- The management of Parkinson’s disease – which treatments to start and when? (external link)BPAC, NZ, 2014
- Decision to fund levodopa with carbidopa and entacapone combination tablets for people with Parkinson disease(external link) Pharmac, NZ, 2024
- Medication used in the treatment of Parkinson’s(external link) Parkinson’s New Zealand
Medicines and side effects
Healthify He Puna Waiora, NZ, 2024
Health Quality and Safety Commission, NZ, 2019 English, te reo Māori
Credits: Healthify editorial team. Healthify is brought to you by Health Navigator Charitable Trust.
Reviewed by: Angela Lambie, Pharmacist, Auckland
Last reviewed:
Page last updated: