Carbidopa / levodopa for Restless Legs Syndrome User Reviews

• dee...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• August 19, 2013

Carbidopa / levodopa "I have been on Sinemet for at least 15 years. I have not had to raise the dosage due to augmentation as of yet. This is the very first medicine I tried for restless legs syndrome, and it works so well for me I don't feel the need to try the newer medicines. I have had restless legs syndrome since my teens and am now hitting 60."

• Mas...
• May 14, 2013

Carbidopa / levodopa "I worked on my feet for 10 years now and developed restless leg about 2 years ago. No one understands what it is until they've encountered it themselves. I am prescribed Sinemet and I love it. I usually only take it when symptoms start (when those legs start feeling funny). I am very fortunate because I suffer no side effects. I do not get sleepy and it doesn't bother my stomach. I would highly recommend this medication for anyone who is unfortunate enough to suffer from this."

• Kev...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• December 13, 2012

Carbidopa / levodopa "This has been a godsend for me. I have been prescribed carbidopa-levodopa 25/100 for 10 years and am currently 53 (age). While it may affect others differently, I have seen absolutely no side effects. If I am beginning to feel restless legs syndrome, this medicine seems to take about an hour to eliminate the symptoms. Since these symptoms seem to come over me as I relax into the evening, I simply take one in advance and another just before bed. I also take it just before long drives and flights. Works great for me and I hope others may be as fortunate. I tried Requip at one time but it made me groggy."

• Noo...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• June 10, 2020

Carbidopa / levodopa "I have been taking Sinemet for many years for restless legs (RLS), and it's the only thing that works. I developed severe RLS after having Guillain-Barré syndrome. None of the home remedies have any effect at all. I have had to increase the dose over time and take a dose at 6 pm, 8 pm, and when going to bed. This gets me through the night. Sometimes I need to take it in the day before a meeting or a long drive or flight, etc."

• Tom...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 3, 2017

"RLS is horrible. My legs were jumping like an acrobat. Sometimes, during the day, my legs would give out. My neurologist prescribed 25/100 - 3X per day. It was a miracle drug. Stopped RLS immediately. But I had other problems. My body hurt all over and was stiff. My muscles were weak. My legs were heavy, and it was hard to walk. However, the 25/100 fixed it all. I feel great! I have more energy and am getting stronger every day. Cutting down on pain meds, and at 68, I have a wonderful and new quality of life. I've only been taking it for 2 weeks, and I am so thankful. I now sleep 100 percent better. The dose only works around 7-8 hours. I take it every 8 hours. I take it at 8:00 pm, and I wake up around 3-4:00 am with symptoms starting again. It takes 30 minutes to work."

• Amy...
• February 20, 2012

Carbidopa / levodopa "I have had restless legs syndrome for years due to iron deficiency. I took Sinemet for about a year, and it seemed to work great for me. However, I could not take the full or even half of the dose because it really made me feel drowsy the following day, so I would break it up and take a very small piece of the pill. Also, if you don't go to bed after taking it and stay up for a while, it can have the adverse effect on you. Makes you really sleepy, but makes your restless legs symptoms worse. Good luck!"

• Kam...
• January 20, 2012

Carbidopa / levodopa "I have suffered from restless legs syndrome for 14 years and have been taking Sinemet since. The only medication that works for me, but it only lasts for 2 to 3 hours, then I need to take it again. For nearly 2 years, I have come to realize that after eating food or drink containing MSG/monosodium glutamate - 621, 627, it contributes to my suffering. So, if I eat less of this, I will suffer less."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 10 years or more
• January 27, 2019

"This medication has completely rid me of my RLS. I've never in 12 years had to change the dosage, and the RLS has never augmented. I can't imagine people living with RLS their whole lives without having any relief."

• Sim...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• May 25, 2017

Carbidopa / levodopa "At first, I thought Sinemet was the greatest thing ever. I took it for two years and began to suffer all sorts of odd side effects, which I didn't at first associate with the drug. But the worst was one that nearly killed me. I didn't even realize it was happening at first because I was having brief periods of blackout. I'd be walking and suddenly feel as though the earth had shifted under my feet. It finally happened while I was driving. I snapped out of it, fortunately without hitting anyone or anything, but didn't know where I was. I stopped taking it and all the symptoms I'd experienced disappeared."

• nra...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• September 4, 2013

"This medicine has provided effective relief this past year. Timing is everything. I am finding I need to take earlier in the evening as it may take as long as an hour and a half to kick in. Then effects wear off by 3:30 a.m. or so, and another dose is needed to get through the rest of the night."

• blo...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• November 7, 2014

"This combination has kept my restless legs syndrome at bay. Occasionally, I'll feel the symptoms between doses, so I take a 1/2 pill, which seems to take care of the problem. I don't think I have any side effects from it. All in all, I'm very satisfied with this medication."

• Bie...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• November 8, 2020

Carbidopa / levodopa "Sinemet worked for RLS for six months, then stopped. Now it is ineffective at any dose. Anti-seizure meds don't help. The only thing that works is Klonopin. I'd rather not take a benzo, but it beats getting slammed every night at 7 PM. Go figure. No increase in dosage in 19 years. Best wishes to all."

• San...
• April 18, 2016

"I've been taking carbidopa/levodopa (generic for Sinemet) for almost 20 years. No side effects. However, timing is the key. I try to eat dinner very early, around 5 o'clock, so the food is totally digested by 11-12 o'clock midnight. Otherwise, it could take a long time to feel results, especially if you've eaten a lot of protein or fatty foods. It even states in the 'fine print' of this drug that its effectiveness is determined by how much protein you eat. I take one 25/100mg carbidopa/levodopa (CL) at 9:30 pm PLUS one 25/100 and one 50/200mg of CL after 11:00 pm. My doc also prescribed half of a 10mg Flexeril to take before bed. It 'knocks me out' and I SLEEP!!"

• Dee...
• June 19, 2014

"Been on this for going on 15 years now. It has worked so well for me that I haven't even bothered to try the newer things out there. I very rarely have to take more than one even after taking it for this length of time."

• Zig...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• February 15, 2018

Carbidopa / levodopa "I've been taking 50 mg of Sinemet for RLS every night, just before bed. While it reduces RLS, my wife still says I twitch. Side effects: cold feet, I have to wear socks at night and even during normal activities around the house. Lately, I've noticed forgetfulness, a listed side effect. Am thinking about switching medications. However, all RLS meds seem to have the same side effects. I may go to Gabapentin Enacarbil or Horizant."

• Pam...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• June 25, 2017

Carbidopa / levodopa "I have been taking Sinemet for several years. It has worked great for me. I take one every night before bed. But I have recently stopped taking it and turned to using essential oils instead. I have not taken a Sinemet for the last 10 nights and have had no issues with my RLS! But I would recommend it to anyone who is looking for relief from the symptoms! Myself, I prefer natural ways to help with my ailments!"

• Kan...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• October 10, 2017

"I've had RLS since childhood. I began on carbidopa in the 1990s, but I quickly became used to it and was switched to Sinemet around 2000. It works well, with no side effects. I'm on a very low dose. Like many others here, timing is everything, and there are many other factors to consider: - Take Sinemet at least 1/2 to 1 hour before you eat. - Eat early (so food digests before you go to bed). - Eat a light meal (heavy or spicy foods can amplify the symptoms of RLS). - Refrain from drinking liquids about an hour before bed. - Stress can aggravate RLS symptoms (try yoga or some other stress reduction activity). - Adjust the room temperature to be comfortable. - Maintain a healthy weight. - Exercise!!!"

• Pat...
• October 2, 2010

Carbidopa / levodopa "I have restless legs both at night and during the day. The Sinemet helps some at night, but doesn't last through the night. I can't take it during the day because it makes me sleepy and upsets my stomach. If I take it with food, it doesn't work at all. I have a heart condition, so there are some medicines I can't take."

• Har...
• June 23, 2016

"I have had RLS since I was a child and before it had a name. I'm 66 now and have been taking the 25-100 carbidopa for 10 plus years. I started with a 1/4 tablet, but now up to a full tablet and it's barely working. I can't imagine my life without it. After reading posts of others, I realize some of my experiences are also related, such as short-term memory loss. I was afraid I had the beginning stages of Alzheimer's. I have also found I cannot even think about eating anything with sugar or lots of salt near bedtime. I wanted to share that since taking a full pill now, I have the most vivid and wonderful dreams. Bottom line, I couldn't imagine life without it. Soap has NEVER worked for me."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• April 18, 2023

Carbidopa / levodopa "I have suffered with RLS for many years off and on, and I was initially put on Sinemet, and it really helps. Later on, I had a very bad episode of RLS, and they tried me on one of the newer RLS meds, and it gave me bad GI upset, so I went back on my Sinemet and Gabapentin. Sinemet has always helped my RLS, and I highly recommend it!"

• Kar...
• August 30, 2015

Carbidopa / levodopa "I have been using Carbi now for several years, and it is a great drug. But I have a problem in the summers. When it gets hot, I start getting high uric acid (gout). I would like to know if anyone else has this problem. And if so, what did you do? What did your Dr. do?"

• ctp...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• June 21, 2019

"I've been taking Ropinirole for RLS for several years, and it has worked well. Last year I started taking Sinemet 25/100 five times a day for Parkinson's, and, without knowing Sinemet was a treatment for RLS, I noticed that even if I didn't take Ropinirole some nights, I still didn't get restless legs. I started wondering if Sinemet was a treatment for RLS and just found out it is, although it doesn't work 100% of the time on its own."

• Pre...
• July 7, 2017

Carbidopa / levodopa "I am going on my 5th pregnancy with boy number 5. Around 9 weeks, my legs were flopping around like a half-dead fish out of water, that is what my legs looked like about every 30-40 seconds all day and night unless I was walking constantly. I begged my doctor to give me something, anything. She refused. I tried every natural remedy I could think of. She finally gave me Sinemet at 25/100 mg dose, half a pill, and it worked wonders, but I noticed after a few weeks of taking it, it wore off faster, and then my legs became worse, so my doctor has to keep increasing my dosage. I am 30 weeks now and at 2 pills a day. I take in half and quarter increments throughout the day to avoid the onset of the RLS. If taken properly, it works great."

• PIE...
• February 8, 2018

"I've taken Sinemet for 15 years now for RLS. I've experienced no side effects. I actually take Mirapex at night, which works well but find it wears off by the next afternoon. I take the Sinemet around lunchtime in order to carry me over until I take the Mirapex in the evening. The timing and combo work very well."

• da ...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• May 6, 2020

"In 2001, I was diagnosed with RLS while participating in an overnight sleep lab to determine if I had sleep apnea. Good news / bad news: no sleep apnea / yes to RLS. My doctor prescribed carbidopa/levodopa 25 mg tablets, 1 to 3 tablets every night before going to bed. It's worked every night (I take 75 mg), and I've never had one issue with RLS. In 2011, I returned to the sleep lab, and this time they discovered a mild case of sleep apnea, prescribed a CPAP machine, but did not find a trace of RLS. My wife could not be happier: no more RLS and no more snoring."