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New medication Crexont
Has anyone tried the new Carbidopa/levadopa Crexont? If you have how did you feel while using it? What side effects did you experience.
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20 Replies
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Yes, I am using, last about 11/2hours longer than comparable Rytary 350 mg. More expensive. No real side effects to speak of.
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Thanks for sharing with how you are experiencing the change. I am waiting for my prescription to come by mail. Once I begin with the new regimen, I will be back to share my experiences with it. If you don’t mind me asking, how many times a day do you take it?
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I had to stop immediately as the side effects were horrible. I was so sad, could not stop crying and had severe dyskinesia
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Wow, that is not good news. Sorry you had such a negative reaction.
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I, too, had a bad reaction, some of the same side effects as you reported: dyskinesia, anger. It is surprising to see the range of symptoms; makes me wonder if I was hallucinating. In any case, several weeks now after switching back to Rytary I feel much better.
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Thank you for the info
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I have been on Crexont since shortly after DBS surgery back in November of ‘24. I started with 280mg and had mild dyskinesia around my mouth. I was able to get my dosage reduced to 210mg, and the dyskinesia is still there, but reduced. I take it 4 times a day, where I was taking Rytary 5 times a day. I had to get my MDS to write to my Medicare plan to get authorization to take it instead of a generic drug.
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My symptoms are primarily “gate” and “freezing” issues. During my “off” times, between freezing and festinating, I struggle to walk at all. Weird as this disease is, I can climb & descend stairs, bike, and run even when I’m “off”. When I’m “on”, I walk almost normally. When I’m over medicated I’m light headed and have mild dyskinesia bobbing my head annoyingly.
I’ve been using Crexont for three months with mixed results. Before switching to Crexont I was using a cocktail of C/L IR and ER tablets that somewhat mimicked Rytary. I took one 25/100mg IR tablet together with one 25/100mg ER tablet every 3 hours (4am, 7am, 10am, 1pm, 4pm) and a 50/200 ER tablet at 8pm (bedtime). So a total of 1,200 mg of LD.
A pair of 25/100 IR + ER took a little over an hour to kick in and would last 2-3 hours depending on my activity level and my food consumption. I was cycling between on and off times every 3 hours. In my case the efficacy of the medicine was strongly dependent on timing of food and with only 3 hours between doses it was hard to avoid collisions with meals. The 1pm and 4pm doses frequently gave muted results due to lunch and dinner. All in all I was grateful for the 6-10 hours of on time I got each day and it was “free to me” as my Medicare advantage plan fully covered the cost. I had two major issues with the “free” regimen: too many hours a day of off time AND I always wake up at least 2x each night with a trip to the bathroom after the bedtime 50/200 ER has worn off being a real “adventure”
My initial results with Crexont were very positive. I converted to an 87.5/350mg capsule every 4 hours (4am, 8am, 12 noon, 4pm) and kept taking the 50/200 C/L ER at bedtime. The Crexont capsules took 1.25 hours to kick in (a little longer than the C/L tablets did) but lasted a full 4 hours. I also found that the impact of meals was different – with generic C/L if a tablet was taken too close to a meal (especially one with high protein content) it was as if that dose was cut in 1/2 or worse. With the Crexont, a meal seemed to delay the absorption but didn’t dramatically reduce the dose as markedly as it did for the generic tablets. In a way this was good, but the delay was unpredictable and could be as much as a couple of hours in which case my doses would “overlap” and I’d find myself overmedicated.
I’m now in my 4th month of Crexont and have made a minor adjustment. I’m still taking 4 of the 87.5/350mg capsules on the same 4 hour interval schedule + the 50/200mg ER tablet at bed. What’s changed is that I take a half tablet of 25/100mg IR with the 4am capsule to “jump start” things each day AND if I’m going to collide with a meal I delay the Crexont schedule an hour or so and take a half or full tablet of the 25/100mg IR to bridge the gap. I also augment the Crexont with half tablets when I’m doing heavy physical activity.
All in all, I’m doing better on Crexont than I was on the generics, but still room for improvement. I pay $150 a month for the Crexont and plan an experiment going back to the free meds for two weeks next month to see if my recollections of how things were is accurate.
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Thanks Paul37, for your sharing a lot of information. My head is spinning just reading what you go through. Keep us informed as you continue on your regimen. When I receive my meds, I will share my experience as well.
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Hi, moonlil,
I tried crexont first the highest dose. The first pill I thought I was restorêd to my old self but I soon had problems. I could not tell when it was wearing off, and I had wild dreams and heard strange sounds. I switched to 240dose 3xday. And I didn’t improve. I finally got back on SINEMET 25/100 about 6xday and I can adjust the dose.
NOT WORTH the small amount of extra time on you may have
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I tried it for a month. Did not notice any difference. I had extreme daytime drowsiness I couldn’t stay awake so I stopped taking it
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I take 4 times a day. Definitely works better, if you don’t eat an hour before, and 45 minutes after. I pay for 3 month supply $125. With Rytary , I was taking 2 different mg’s . 4 times a day for same strength as 350mg Crexont, total $50. Do not take Amantadine and Crexont, they conflict.
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Thanks John
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I have been on Crexont. I had reoccuring bad of #2 many times. I am back on The Rytary but my new Dr. had me increase the total doseage to 390 mg. 4 times a day along with twice a day Amantadine.
My oppinion, do not hesitate to find a new doctor if you are having trouble and are not staying the course. Don’t wait to help yourself.!!
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I (71F) tried Crexont for a couple of months. It controlled the tremor well and gave me more energy but I also experienced extreme fluctuations in blood pressure, heightened anxiety and worsening insomnia since going on it. I stopped taking it and my blood pressure returned to normal, the anxiety disappeared and my issues with insomnia improved, going back to pre Crexont levels. I am back on Sinemet 100-25, 8 tablets a day (2-2-2-2), My doctor put me on the highest dose of Crexont 87.5/350, so I don’t know if that was the reason I experienced such bad side affects, or if side effects would have appeared even with lower doses.
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About 6 weeks ago I switched from Rotary 61.25-245 mg to Crexont 70-280. I take Crexont 3 x per day just as I had Rotary.
Crexont has performed as expected. I find that it takes effect more quickly and lasts longer (5-6 hours).
Good luck to. all.
One note: If you eat , particularly high protein foods during or adjacent to when you take Crexont (and Rytary) the drug efficacy is significant impacted.
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I used it from November to April (350 3X a day.) I do have stomach issues and I experiences severe stomach issues which lasted for 48 straight-no sleep stomach hurt so bad. I was in constant contact with my gastro doctor, had pancreatic enzymes tests-nothing abnormal. This would happen every few weeks, not daily. Finally called neurologist in tears and he put me back on Rytary (280 3X a day)). He had originally put me on Crexont because Rytary is scheduled to go generic this summer and he was afraid I would experience problems based on my previous history with meds. NOT ONE STOMACH PROBLEM SINCE I STOPPED! Took all that time ti figure out it was the Crexont! It was awful-BEWARE! And good lick if it works for you.
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Yes, my doctor has had me on it for about a year now, I’m taking 8 capsules a day. The first dose of the day, I take 2 capsules of the 70 mg/280 mg to start my day, then the next two doses I mix one capsule each of the 70 mg/280 mg with 52.5 mg/ 210 mg, and end the day, with 2 capsules of the 70 mg/280 mg and I seem to manage my condition along with my DBS well.
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I tried Crexont. Did not seem to make a difference and it may me even more tired that the C/L I take.
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My doctor had me try Crexont , having previously been on Rytary 23.75-96mg 3 cap 3xday (1995 mg). He started me on 70/280 mg 2 cap 3x day (1680 mg). I had dyskinesia so bad I could hardly function. I cut it back to one cap twice a day, and it’s better but seems to run out too soon. I’m going to try 3 x a day and if that’s too much, will drop to lower dose capsules. I get very stiff when I’m “off”, but that may be arthritis. I also need a nap every afternoon on Crexont which diminishes my “on” time. What a balancing act! I had fewer problems on my Rytary regime, but like the idea of taking fewer pills.
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