What Is Dhivy? Uses, Dosage, and What You Need to Know in 2026

Dhivy (pronounced "divvy") is a prescription oral tablet used to treat Parkinson's disease. Its active ingredients are carbidopa and levodopa — the gold-standard combination for managing Parkinson's motor symptoms. What makes Dhivy distinctive is its innovative tablet design: three deep score lines that allow the tablet to be snapped cleanly into four equal segments, enabling more precise dose customization than standard carbidopa/levodopa tablets.

This guide covers everything you need to know about Dhivy in 2026 — from its approved uses and dosing to what makes it different from other carbidopa/levodopa options.

What Is Dhivy Used For?

Dhivy is FDA-approved for the treatment of:

• Parkinson's disease: The primary use, for managing motor symptoms including tremor, rigidity, bradykinesia (slowness of movement), and postural instability.
• Post-encephalitic parkinsonism: Parkinsonism caused by viral encephalitis (brain inflammation).
• Symptomatic parkinsonism from toxic exposure: Parkinson's-like symptoms resulting from carbon monoxide poisoning or manganese intoxication.

Dhivy is approved only for adults. Its safety and effectiveness in pediatric patients have not been established.

What Makes Dhivy Different from Regular Carbidopa/Levodopa?

Standard carbidopa/levodopa tablets (generic and brand-name Sinemet) are available in several strengths, but cutting them precisely in quarters is unreliable. Dhivy's unique Accu-Break technology creates three functional score lines that allow the tablet to be broken into:

• Full tablet: 25 mg carbidopa / 100 mg levodopa
• Three-quarter tablet (3 segments): 18.75 mg carbidopa / 75 mg levodopa
• Half tablet (2 segments): 12.5 mg carbidopa / 50 mg levodopa
• Quarter tablet (1 segment): 6.25 mg carbidopa / 25 mg levodopa — the smallest precisely doseable unit of carbidopa/levodopa currently on the U.S. market

This precision can be especially valuable for patients who need fine dose adjustments to minimize motor fluctuations, manage dyskinesia, or start with very small doses early in their disease.

Who Makes Dhivy?

Dhivy is manufactured and marketed by Avion Pharmaceuticals, LLC — a specialty pharmaceutical company and subsidiary of Alora Pharmaceuticals, based in Alpharetta, Georgia. The FDA approved Dhivy in November 2021 under NDA 214869 via the 505(b)(2) regulatory pathway, using Sinemet 25/100 mg as the reference listed drug. Dhivy became commercially available in February 2022.

Dhivy Dosage: How Is It Prescribed?

Dhivy comes in only one tablet strength: 25 mg carbidopa / 100 mg levodopa. The FDA-approved prescribing information specifies:

• Starting dose: 1 tablet (25/100 mg) three times per day
• Titration: Dosage may be increased by up to 1 whole tablet per day or every other day, as tolerated
• Maximum dose: 8 whole tablets per day (200 mg carbidopa / 800 mg levodopa)
• Minimum carbidopa: At least 70–100 mg of carbidopa per day should be provided to adequately suppress peripheral levodopa decarboxylation and minimize nausea

Your neurologist will individualize your Dhivy dose based on your symptoms, tolerability, and response to treatment. Dose adjustments should always be made with medical supervision.

How Do You Take Dhivy?

Dhivy can be taken with or without food. However:

• High-fat, high-calorie meals may slow levodopa absorption
• High-protein meals can reduce the amount of levodopa absorbed from the gut — patients with motor fluctuations sometimes benefit from taking doses 30–60 minutes before high-protein meals
• Iron supplements and multivitamins with iron can form chelates with carbidopa and levodopa, reducing absorption — take iron at least 2 hours before or after Dhivy

Store Dhivy at room temperature between 68°F and 77°F (20°C–25°C) in a tightly closed, light-resistant container. Keep out of reach of children.

Is Dhivy a Controlled Substance?

No. Dhivy (carbidopa/levodopa) is not a controlled substance and is not scheduled by the DEA. This means it can be prescribed without a DEA-licensed prescriber, refills are not restricted by controlled substance laws, and it can be prescribed via telehealth without the additional requirements that apply to Schedule II medications.

How Soon Does Dhivy Start Working?

Most patients begin to notice improvement in Parkinson's symptoms within 1 hour of taking a dose. However, finding the right dose for optimal symptom control can take several weeks to months of gradual adjustment. Consistency is key — take Dhivy at the same times each day as prescribed, and don't miss doses.

To learn more about how Dhivy works, see our companion article on Dhivy's mechanism of action explained in plain English. If you need help finding Dhivy at a pharmacy near you, medfinder can help.