Frequently asked questions about DHIVY

Carbidopa/levodopa is a treatment for Parkinson’s disease that is available in different forms. Even though carbidopa/levodopa is effective, it can be hard to find the right daily dose.
Why it’s a delicate balance

DHIVY is a tablet of carbidopa/levodopa that can be split into 4 segments. A whole tablet contains 25 mg/100 mg, but each segment contains 6.25 mg/25 mg. This means you can work with your doctor to personalize your daily dose to fit your needs.
More about dosing

Two doctors teamed up to develop DHIVY so that people with Parkinson’s disease could personalize their daily dose of carbidopa/levodopa. Avion Pharmaceuticals worked with those doctors to help bring their vision to life.
More about DHIVY

DHIVY is a tablet that can be split into 4 segments, allowing you to adjust your daily dose. RYTARY and CREXONT are capsules that cannot be split.
More about dosing

The motor symptoms of Parkinson’s disease are partially caused by a lack of dopamine in the brain. DHIVY contains levodopa, which is thought to convert to dopamine in the brain.
More about CD/LD

There are two ways for you to save when prescribed DHIVY. Take a look to see which savings option is best for you.
Find where you can save

Swallow the tablet whole or snap it into segments. To break DHIVY into segments, you or your caregiver should firmly hold the tablet in both hands then gently push downward on each side of the tablet's groove to break off the amount you need.

DHIVY can be taken with or without food. Changing your diet to one with foods that are high in protein or taking iron salts or multivitamins with iron may delay your body's absorption of DHIVY. Also, too much stomach acid delays how fast your stomach empties, which could delay how your body absorbs DHIVY.
More about dosing

The dosing schedule for DHIVY can differ from person to person. However, it is important that DHIVY be taken at regular intervals according to the schedule outlined by your doctor. Talk with your doctor to find out how often you need to take DHIVY, and do not make changes to your dosing regimen without first discussing them with your doctor. Tell your doctor if you plan to stop taking DHIVY.
More about dosing

You can work with your doctor to find the right daily dose of DHIVY. It may take some trial and error to find the daily dosing schedule that works for you.
More about dosing

The most common side effects reported with DHIVY include dyskinesia and nausea.
More on side effects

Your doctor will be able to answer any questions you have about DHIVY. You can also contact Avion Pharmaceuticals by calling 1-888-612-8466 or filling out the Contact Us form here.

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION & INDICATION

DHIVY is contraindicated in patients

  • Currently taking a nonselective monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitor (e.g., phenelzine, linezolid, and tranylcypromine) or have recently (within 2 weeks) taken a nonselective MAO inhibitor. Hypertension can occur if these drugs are used concurrently.
  • With known hypersensitivity to any component of DHIVY.

Taking DHIVY may result in falling asleep while engaged in normal activities, even without warning and as late as 1 year or later after starting DHIVY. This may affect your ability to drive or operate machinery, resulting in accidents. Do not do anything that requires alertness until you know how DHIVY affects you. Tell your healthcare provider about any sleep medicines you take or if you have a sleep disorder, and discuss any episodes of drowsiness or sleepiness you experience while taking DHIVY.

Talk to your healthcare provider before you change the dose or stop taking DHIVY, as this may result in serious side effects. Call your healthcare provider immediately if you develop withdrawal symptoms such as fever, confusion, or severe muscle stiffness.

Tell your healthcare provider if you have any heart conditions, especially if you have had a heart attack or irregular heartbeats. Your heart function should be monitored during the time period your DHIVY dose is first adjusted.

Treatment with DHIVY may cause hallucinations or abnormal thoughts and behaviors. Be sure to tell your healthcare provider if you experience excessive suspicion; seeing, hearing, or feeling things that are not real; confusion; agitation; aggressive behavior; and disorganized thinking.

Treatment with DHIVY may also cause intense urges to gamble, increased sexual urges, intense urges to spend money, binge eating, and other intense urges, as well as the inability to control those urges. Uncontrolled sudden movements of the face, arms, legs, or trunk may appear or get worse during treatment with DHIVY. This may mean your dosage of DHIVY or other Parkinson’s medications needs to be adjusted.

Tell your healthcare provider if you have ever had a peptic ulcer or glaucoma, as treatment with DHIVY may worsen these conditions. DHIVY also may cause abnormal blood or urine test results.

Some patients taking DHIVY may experience depression or suicidal thoughts. Tell your healthcare provider if you have thoughts of suicide.

The most common side effects that may appear with DHIVY include uncontrolled sudden movements and nausea.

Tell your healthcare provider about all the medications you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Using DHIVY with certain other medicines, including MAO inhibitors, isoniazid, iron supplements, medicines for high blood pressure or those that increase or decrease dopamine levels, or metoclopramide, may cause serious side effects.

Notify your healthcare provider if you become pregnant or intend to become pregnant during DHIVY therapy or if you intend to breastfeed or are breastfeeding an infant.

INDICATION

DHIVY is a prescription medication that contains a combination of carbidopa and levodopa for the treatment of Parkinson’s disease, Parkinson’s disease caused by infection or inflammation of the brain, or Parkinson’s disease–like symptoms that may result from carbon monoxide or manganese poisoning.

You may report side effects to Avion Pharmaceuticals, LLC at 1-888-612-8466 or to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.


Please click here for full Prescribing Information.