Both Sifrol and Sinemet are used to treat the symptoms of Parkinson's disease, but they belong to two different classes of medications that work by different mechanisms to address the dopamine deficiency in the brain associated with the disease. Understanding these differences helps determine the most appropriate medication or combination of medications for each patient.
Sifrol Tablets Ingredients
Sifrol tablets contain the active ingredient pramipexole. Pramipexole is a dopamine agonist, meaning it mimics the effect of dopamine in the brain by binding to and activating dopamine receptors. It helps relieve Parkinson's symptoms such as tremor, rigidity, slowness of movement, and difficulty with balance.
Sinemet Tablets Ingredients
Sinemet tablets contain a combination of two active ingredients: levodopa and carbidopa. Levodopa is a precursor to dopamine, which is converted in the brain to dopamine to compensate for the deficiency. Carbidopa is a decarboxylase inhibitor that prevents the conversion of levodopa to dopamine outside the brain, increasing the amount of levodopa that reaches the brain and reducing side effects such as nausea.
About Sifrol Tablets
Drug Class: Dopamine Agonists
Drug Classification: Non-Ergot
Pharmaceutical Form: Tablets
Pharmacological Family: Central Nervous System Drugs, Drugs for the Treatment of Parkinson's Disease
Active Ingredient: Pramipexole
About Sinemet Tablets
Drug Class: Drugs for the Treatment of Parkinson's Disease
Drug Classification: Dopamine Agonists and Decarboxylase Inhibitors
Pharmaceutical Form: Tablets
Pharmacological Family: Central Nervous System Drugs, Drugs for the Treatment of Parkinson's Disease
Active Ingredients: Levodopa, Carbidopa