Drug interactions
Carbidopa-entacapone-levodopa + Guanfacine
Severity: Moderate
Carbidopa-entacapone-levodopa and Guanfacine: moderate interaction.
Last updated
For healthcare professionals — reference only. This page is a brief summary, not medical advice and not a substitute for official labeling or clinical judgement. Always verify before prescribing or dispensing.
Summary
Guanfacine is a centrally acting alpha-2 agonist that lowers blood pressure and heart rate, and levodopa can add to hypotension and orthostatic symptoms. Combined use may cause dizziness, syncope or excessive blood pressure reduction.
What this interaction means in plain words
Carbidopa-entacapone-levodopa and Guanfacine can affect each other. The combination is often manageable, but it may need a change of dose, a change of timing, or extra checks while both are taken.
Carbidopa-entacapone-levodopa belongs to Central Nervous System; Guanfacine belongs to Cardiovascular.
Why it happens
Additive hypotensive effects from central sympatholytic action and levodopa-related vasodilation.
What to do
Monitor blood pressure and heart rate, including standing readings, when starting or adjusting either drug. Reduce the guanfacine dose if symptomatic hypotension develops.
What to ask your pharmacist
- Should I take them at different times of day?
- Does the dose of either medicine need to change?
- Is there anything I should avoid, such as alcohol or certain foods, while on both?
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Other interactions of Carbidopa-entacapone-levodopa
- Carbidopa-entacapone-levodopa + Isocarboxazid Contraindicated
- Carbidopa-entacapone-levodopa + Phenelzine Contraindicated
- Carbidopa-entacapone-levodopa + Selegiline transdermal Contraindicated
- Carbidopa-entacapone-levodopa + Tranylcypromine Contraindicated
- Amisulpride + Carbidopa-entacapone-levodopa Major
- Asenapine transdermal + Carbidopa-entacapone-levodopa Major
Other interactions of Guanfacine
- Clonidine + Guanfacine Major
- Guanfacine + Lofexidine Major
- Aldesleukin + Guanfacine Moderate
- Amiodarone + Guanfacine Moderate
- Amisulpride + Guanfacine Moderate
- Amitriptyline + Guanfacine Moderate
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Carbidopa-entacapone-levodopa with Guanfacine?
MediHelp rates the interaction as moderate. Carbidopa-entacapone-levodopa and Guanfacine can affect each other. The combination is often manageable, but it may need a change of dose, a change of timing, or extra checks while both are taken. Guanfacine is a centrally acting alpha-2 agonist that lowers blood pressure and heart rate, and levodopa can add to hypotension and orthostatic symptoms. Combined use may cause dizziness, syncope or excessive blood pressure reduction.
How serious is the interaction between Carbidopa-entacapone-levodopa and Guanfacine?
MediHelp rates it moderate, on a four-level scale (minor, moderate, major, contraindicated) based on published labels and references. What to do, in brief: Monitor blood pressure and heart rate, including standing readings, when starting or adjusting either drug. Reduce the guanfacine dose if symptomatic hypotension develops.
What other medicines interact with Carbidopa-entacapone-levodopa?
MediHelp also lists interactions of Carbidopa-entacapone-levodopa with, for example, Isocarboxazid, Phenelzine, Selegiline transdermal. The full list is on the Carbidopa-entacapone-levodopa page.
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