Parkinson's Disease and Dopamine: The Basics

To understand how Crexont XR works, you first need to know what's happening in the brain during Parkinson's disease.

Your brain uses a chemical called dopamine to send messages that control movement. In Parkinson's disease, the brain cells that produce dopamine gradually die. As dopamine levels drop, you start experiencing symptoms like tremors, muscle stiffness, slow movement, and difficulty with balance.

Crexont XR works by replacing the dopamine your brain can no longer make on its own.

The Two Active Ingredients in Crexont XR

Crexont XR contains two medications that work together:

Levodopa — The Dopamine Builder

Levodopa is the main active ingredient. When you take it, your body converts Levodopa into dopamine. This replenishes the dopamine your brain is missing and helps reduce Parkinson's symptoms like tremors and stiffness.

Levodopa has been used to treat Parkinson's disease since the 1960s and remains the most effective medication for controlling motor symptoms.

Carbidopa — The Protector

Here's the problem with Levodopa on its own: your body starts breaking it down into dopamine before it reaches the brain. Enzymes in your gut and bloodstream convert Levodopa to dopamine in the wrong place, which causes nausea and means less medication gets where it's needed.

Carbidopa solves this problem. It blocks the enzymes that break down Levodopa outside the brain (called peripheral decarboxylase inhibition). This means:

• More Levodopa reaches your brain.
• You need a lower dose of Levodopa.
• You experience less nausea and vomiting.

Think of Carbidopa as a bodyguard that protects Levodopa on its journey to your brain.

What Makes Crexont XR Different: The Dual-Bead System

Several Carbidopa/Levodopa medications exist, including Sinemet (immediate-release), Sinemet CR (controlled-release), and Rytary (extended-release). What makes Crexont XR unique is its dual-bead formulation.

Each Crexont XR capsule contains two types of tiny beads:

1. Immediate-Release Granules

These beads contain both Carbidopa and Levodopa. They dissolve quickly after you take the capsule, providing a fast boost of medication. This helps you feel relief from your symptoms sooner — similar to how immediate-release Sinemet works.

2. Extended-Release Pellets

These beads contain Levodopa only and are designed to dissolve slowly over time. They release medication gradually, keeping your dopamine levels more steady throughout the day.

Why This Matters

Many people with Parkinson's disease experience "wearing off" — a period where their medication stops working before it's time for the next dose. Symptoms come back, and you may feel stiff, slow, or shaky.

Crexont XR's dual-bead design addresses this by:

• Providing quick symptom relief from the immediate-release beads.
• Maintaining longer-lasting control from the extended-release beads.
• Reducing the gaps between doses where symptoms break through.

How Crexont XR Moves Through Your Body

Here's what happens after you take a Crexont XR capsule:

1. You swallow the capsule (or sprinkle the beads on applesauce).
2. In your stomach: The immediate-release granules begin dissolving right away, releasing Carbidopa and Levodopa.
3. In your intestine: The extended-release pellets gradually dissolve, releasing more Levodopa over several hours.
4. Carbidopa blocks the enzymes that would break down Levodopa in your body.
5. Levodopa crosses into your brain through the blood-brain barrier.
6. In your brain: Levodopa is converted into dopamine by the enzyme DOPA decarboxylase.
7. Dopamine activates the nerve pathways that control movement, easing your Parkinson's symptoms.

Why Protein and Iron Affect Crexont XR

You may have heard that you should avoid high-protein meals and iron supplements when taking Crexont XR. Here's why:

• Protein: Levodopa is an amino acid, and it uses the same transport system in your gut as the amino acids from protein. If you eat a lot of protein at the same time, the protein competes with Levodopa for absorption, meaning less medication gets into your bloodstream.
• Iron: Iron binds to Levodopa in the gut, forming a complex that your body can't absorb well. Take iron supplements at least 2 hours apart from Crexont XR.

For more information about what to avoid, read our drug interactions guide.

How Crexont XR Compares to Other Options

Here's a simplified comparison:

• Sinemet (immediate-release): Works fast but wears off quickly. Requires more frequent dosing.
• Sinemet CR (controlled-release): Lasts longer but has slower, less predictable onset.
• Rytary (extended-release): Similar concept with immediate and extended-release beads, but different formulation.
• Crexont XR: Dual-bead system designed for both fast onset and sustained release.

If you're considering switching medications, see our alternatives guide or talk to your doctor.

The Bottom Line

Crexont XR works by delivering Levodopa to your brain, where it's converted into dopamine to replace what Parkinson's disease has taken away. Carbidopa protects the Levodopa from being broken down too early. The dual-bead capsule provides both quick relief and extended coverage, helping to reduce wearing-off periods between doses.

Want to know more? Learn about Crexont XR dosage and uses, side effects to watch for, or how to find it at a pharmacy near you.