Key takeaways
Neupro (rotigotine) and Stalevo (carbidopa/levodopa/entacapone) are both used to treat Parkinson's disease (PD), but they work in different ways and have different forms. Neupro is a dopamine agonist that comes as a patch you apply to your skin once a day. It can also treat moderate-to-severe restless legs syndrome (RLS). Stalevo is a combination pill that includes carbidopa, levodopa, and entacapone, and it helps manage PD symptoms by increasing dopamine levels in the brain. Unlike Neupro, Stalevo is taken orally and usually needs to be taken multiple times a day. Neupro is only available as a brand-name medication, while Stalevo has a lower-cost generic version. Both medications can cause sleepiness and hallucinations, but Neupro can also cause skin irritation where the patch is applied, and Stalevo can cause diarrhea and change the color of your urine.
