The following side effects may get better over time as your body gets used to the medication. Let your healthcare provider know immediately if you continue to experience these symptoms or if they worsen over time.
Common Side Effects
- Involuntary movements (dyskinesia or dystonia)
- Nausea
Less Common Side Effects
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Dry mouth
- Back or shoulder pain
- Confusion
- Headache
- Weakness
- Dizziness
- Hallucinations
- Unusual dreams
- Shortness of breath
- Dark-colored saliva, sweat, or urine
- Changes in blood pressure
Sinemet serious side effects
Contact your healthcare provider immediately if you experience any of the following.
- Falling asleep suddenly or feeling very sleepy
- Hallucinations: seeing things that aren't there, hearing sounds that aren't real, feeling unreal sensations
- Abnormal thinking or behavior: confusion; trouble sleeping; paranoia; delusions; aggression; agitation; strong urges to gamble, shop, or eat
- Depression and thoughts of suicide
- Low vitamin B6: depression, confusion, swollen or sore tongue, cracked corners of your mouth, skin irritation, numbness or tingling in the hands or feet, seizure
- Withdrawal symptoms after stopping or lowering the dose suddenly: very high fevers, confusion, irregular pulse, sweating, muscle stiffness, changes in blood pressure
When do Sinemet possible side effects begin and end?
Time passed since treatment started:
M
H
D
W
M
Y
Nausea
Uncontrolled movements (dyskinesia)
Seek immediate medical care if you experience this side effect.
If a line continues to the right, you'll likely keep experiencing this side effect once it starts.
Source: FDA
The following Sinemet side effects have also been reported
Side effects that you should report to your care team as soon as possible:
- Allergic reactions—skin rash, itching, hives, swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat
- Falling asleep during daily activities
- Heart rhythm changes—fast or irregular heartbeat, dizziness, feeling faint or lightheaded, chest pain, trouble breathing
- Low blood pressure—dizziness, feeling faint or lightheaded, blurry vision
- Low vitamin B6 level—swollen or sore tongue, cracks at the corners of the mouth, rash, pain, tingling, or numbness in the hands or feet, irritability, confusion, feelings of depression, unusual weakness or fatigue, seizures
- Mood and behavior changes—anxiety, nervousness, confusion, hallucinations, irritability, hostility, thoughts of suicide or self-harm, worsening mood, feelings of depression
- New or worsening uncontrolled and repetitive movements of the face, mouth, or upper body
- Stomach bleeding—bloody or black, tar-like stools, vomiting blood or brown material that looks like coffee grounds
- Sudden eye pain or change in vision such as blurry vision, seeing halos around lights, vision loss
- Urges to engage in impulsive behaviors such as gambling, binge eating, sexual activity, or shopping in ways that are unusual for you
Side effects that usually do not require medical attention (report these to your care team if they continue or are bothersome):
- Dark red or black saliva, sweat, or urine
- Dizziness
- Drowsiness
- Headache
- Nausea
