Foscarbidopa/foslevodopa (By injection)
Foscarbidopa (fos-kar-bi-DOE-pa), Foslevodopa (fos-lee-voe-DOE-pa)
Treats Parkinson disease.
Brand Name(s):
Vyalev
There may be other brand names for this medicine.When This Medicine Should Not Be Used:
This medicine is not right for everyone. Do not use it if you had an allergic reaction to foscarbidopa or foslevodopa.How to Use This Medicine:
Injectable
- Your doctor will prescribe your exact dose and tell you how often it should be given. A nurse or other trained health professional will teach you or a caregiver how to give this medicine. It is given as an infusion that is placed directly under your skin.
- Your doctor or nurse will teach you how to prepare the medicine and how to use the pump for the infusion. You will be given detailed instructions on how to use and care for your pump and accessories. Make sure you understand all of the instructions before giving yourself an infusion.
- You will be shown the body areas where this shot can be given. Use a different body area each time you give yourself a shot. Keep track of where you give each shot to make sure you rotate body areas. Do not inject into skin areas that are tender, red, bruised, or hard.
- Allow the medicine to warm to room temperature for 30 minutes. Do not warm using heat sources (including microwave, hot water).
- Check the liquid in the vial. It should be colorless to light yellow and brown (possibly purple or red tint). Do not use if it is cloudy or has flakes or particles in it. Do not shake.
- Do not add any other liquid or fill the syringe with anything other than this medicine.
- You can stop using this medicine for short periods of time, including taking a shower or a short medical procedure. Change your infusion set and rotate to a different injection site if you stop the infusion for more than 1 hour.
- If you stop using this medicine for more than 3 hours, you should give yourself a loading dose.
- Keep a supply of oral backup medicine that contains levodopa and carbidopa with you at all times, in case your treatment with this medicine is stopped for 1 hour or more.
- Use a new needle and syringe each time you inject your medicine.
- This medicine should come with a Medication Guide. Ask your pharmacist for a copy if you do not have one.
- Missed dose: Call your doctor or pharmacist for instructions.
- If you store this medicine at home, keep it in the refrigerator. Do not freeze. You may store the medicine at room temperature for up to 28 days. Do not put it back in the refrigerator once kept in room temperature. Throw away unused medicine if not used within 28 days.
- Do not use this medicine if it has been in the syringe for more than 24 hours.
- Throw away used needles in a hard, closed container that the needles cannot poke through. Keep this container away from children and pets.
Drugs and Foods to Avoid:
Ask your doctor or pharmacist before using any other medicine, including over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products.
- Do not use this medicine if you have used a non-selective MAO inhibitor (MAOI), including phenelzine or tranylcypromine within the past 14 days.
- Some foods and medicines can affect how foscarbidopa/foslevodopa works. Tell your doctor if you are using any of the following:
- Isoniazid, metoclopramide, papaverine, rasagiline, risperidone, selegiline
- Blood pressure medicine
- Medicine to treat depression or mental health problems
- Phenothiazine medicine
- Do not drink alcohol while you are using this medicine.
- Tell your doctor if you use anything else that makes you sleepy. Some examples are allergy medicine, narcotic pain medicine, and alcohol.
Warnings While Using This Medicine:
- Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, or if you have heart or blood vessel disease, abnormal muscle movements, glaucoma, high blood pressure, mental health problems, a sleep disorder, or a history of heart rhythm problems or heart attack.
- This medicine may cause the following problems:
- Mental health problems (including thoughts of suicide, depression, hallucinations)
- Unusual changes in thoughts or behavior, including the urge to gamble, spend money, binge eat, or an increased sex drive
- Infusion site reactions and infection
- Withdrawal symptoms (including withdrawal-emergent fever and confusion)
- Dyskinesia (trouble controlling movements)
- Heart problems, including heart attack, arrhythmia
- Increased pressure in the eye
- This medicine may make you dizzy or drowsy, or even cause you to fall asleep without warning. This could happen while you are driving, eating, or talking. Tell your doctor right away if this happens. Do not drive or do anything that could be dangerous until you know how this medicine affects you.
- Do not stop using this medicine suddenly. Your doctor will need to slowly decrease your dose before you stop it completely.
- Your doctor will do lab tests at regular visits to check on the effects of this medicine. Keep all appointments.
- Keep all medicine out of the reach of children. Never share your medicine with anyone.
Possible Side Effects While Using This Medicine:
Call your doctor right away if you notice any of these side effects:
- Allergic reaction: Itching or hives, swelling in your face or hands, swelling or tingling in your mouth or throat, chest tightness, trouble breathing
- Changes in mood or behavior, thoughts of hurting yourself
- Chest pain, trouble breathing, fast or uneven heartbeat
- Compulsive behavior or intense urges you cannot control
- Falling asleep in the middle of an activity
- Fever, sweating, confusion, muscle stiffness
- Jerky muscle movement you cannot control (often in your face, tongue, or jaw)
- Rapid weight gain, swelling in your hands, ankles, or feet
If you notice these less serious side effects, talk with your doctor:
- Pain, itching, burning, swelling, or a lump under your skin where the shot was given
If you notice other side effects that you think are caused by this medicine, tell your doctor
Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088
Last Updated: 2/4/2025