A Drug Found to Stabilize AMD

By USMC201Vet

2 min read

The Department of Ophthalmology and Vision Science at the University of Arizona Tucson, AZ following nearly 20 years of research and study into AMD has found that a Parkinson’s Disease Drug carbidopa levodopa 25-100 mg stabilizes AMD and can improve vision.

Benefit of this drug

The distressing thing is, the collective medical community and medical manufacturers are keeping the benefit of this drug for AMD suppressed and silenced because of its low cost. The cost for a carbidopa/levodopa oral tablet (25 mg-100 mg) is around $14 for a supply of 30 tablets if taking one tablet a day. Depending on the pharmacy.

High prices

Compared to shots in the eyes using Aflibercept which is approximately $1,850 per intravitreal dose, Ranibizumab 0.5 mg used to treat wet AMD and retinal vein occlusion has a price tag of $1,950-$2,023 per dose. Ranibizumab 0.3 mg, used to treat DME, is $1,170 per dose. There is clinical proof that carbidopa levodopa 25-100 mg is an effective tested treatment for macular degeneration which could be prescribed OFF-LABEL prescribing is common.

According to the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, around 20% of all prescriptions in the United States are for off-label use.

Doctors and drug companies

Many people may be surprised to know that the FDA regulates drug approval, not drug prescribing, and doctors are free to prescribe a drug for any reason they think is medically appropriate, It appears the doctors and drug companies do not want to release their grip on these medications and lose their cash cow. I have written many letters about this to my government agencies to be just blown off or getting just canned replies.

Denials

I have made phone calls to ophthalmologists in my surrounding area to find out if they would prescribe carbidopa levodopa 25-100 mg off-label. Most of them just hang up on me or say "NO" and then hang up. I had been of the opinion that the elected, appointed officials, and our medical community doctors had the same strength and courage equal to the citizens, patients, and veterans they represent and treat.

They would step out with determination and honest resolve to find the truth and not be intimidated by any faction when it came to their attention that a use for an already FDA-approved drug was found effective in treating AMD.

By the people for the people

I never thought they would ever bow over in complete surrender to the drug manufacturers to put drug profit ahead of the human condition. I no longer have much faith in the workings of my government to provide an honest response when called upon. What has happened to, a government of the people, by the people, and for the people?

Resources

I have put together some of the published medical findings for this medication I have found. Just copy and paste each of the articles into your browser and you can read the findings for yourself.

The $2 Drug That Millions of Patients Aren’t Being Told About

Levodopa Positively Affects Neovascular Age-Related Macular Degeneration

Parkinson’s Disease Drug Stabilizes Age-Related Macular Degeneration and Improves Vision

A Safety and Efficacy Study of Carbidopa-levodopa in Patients with Macular Degeneration

Do you have wet macular degeneration? What has your treatment experience been like?

This article represents the opinions, thoughts, and experiences of the author; none of this content has been paid for by any advertiser. The MacularDegeneration.net team does not recommend or endorse any products or treatments discussed herein. Learn more about how we maintain editorial integrity here.

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abbyschmidt Community Admin
Hi there! Thank you so much for submitting your story and shedding light on such an important topic. I totally hear you on how expensive MD treatments can be, and I commend you on doing research and knocking on doors until you get answers. I wanted to share some articles that we have shared within our community on managing eye treatment expenses: <a href='https://maculardegeneration.net/living/healthcare-costs' target='_blank'>https://maculardegeneration.net/living/healthcare-costs</a>, <a href='https://maculardegeneration.net/resources-cost' target='_blank'>https://maculardegeneration.net/resources-cost</a>, <a href='https://maculardegeneration.net/living/injection-costs' target='_blank'>https://maculardegeneration.net/living/injection-costs</a>. I hope these resources are useful for you and anyone else who may be feeling the financial impact of treatment costs at this time. Sending all my best, Abby (Team Member).
CommunityMemberd3cf3d Member
I was interested to read that carbidopa-levadopa has been so effective for AMD. Possibly not at a dosage effective for treating Parkinson's. I have had both Parkinson's and AMD for more than 6 years. When my AMD was dry it progressed very slowly, if at all. In the past year both of my eyes have developed wet AMD. One of them responded well to treatment and was doing really well until about a month ago when there was more bleeding. The other eye is not really responsive, the injections keep it from getting worse, but don't improve it. I am taking a total of 6 25-100mg c/d during daytime hours and 2 50-200mg at bedtime. Maybe having active Parkinson's makes a difference. Just a thought. 
1. Brown Eyed Girl Moderator
 <inline-mention username="CommunityMemberd3cf3d" user-id="6616726"/> I hope you are managing OK having Parkinson's Disease. Have you been taking the carbidopa-levodopa very long? Do you think it has had a positive effect on your macular degeneration? I hadn't heard of this drug, but have been reading about it on-line. The comments (to my unscientific mind) seem to be positive. Wendy, Patient Leader.
USMC201Vet Member
carbidopa levodopa 25-100 mg is the dose I have been told 1 to 3 tablets a day according to the conditon of AMD. I have written about 27 letters to government officials, to the Committee on Vereran affairs, Organizations who deal with AMD, the list goes on and on. NO ONE has the courage to go up against the powerful drug companies. I do not know what happened to the government of the poople, or for the people. I wish you well 
1. Brown Eyed Girl Moderator
 <inline-mention username="USMC201Vet" user-id="6607114"/> thank you for sharing this. Do you have Parkinson's a well as macular degeneration, or just macular degeneration. Did your doctor recommend this drug, or did you decide to take it yourself. I had not heard of this drug before but there is a lot of interesting reading on-line about it. Wendy, Patient Leader.
CommunityMemberd3cf3d Member
I have been taking carbidopa-levidopa for about 3 years and it works very well at controlling the Parkinson's symptoms. I really don't think it has done much for the AMD. Possibly because of the way it works to control the Parkinson's, which is caused by special brain cells which produce dopamine being destroyed. The body requires dopamine for many things, among them movement, muscle control and balance. The carbidopa-levidopa goes to the brain where it is converted into dopamine. It is not stored in the body like some medications, but begins working within minutes and is used up rather quickly and has to be retaken periodically, in my case, every 4 hours beginning at 6am until bedtime. I had never heard of it being used for AMD until just the other day. I do know that taking more of the medication than you need will cause some unpleasant side effects. It is an interesting subject, though. 
1. abbyschmidt Community Admin
 <inline-mention username="CommunityMemberd3cf3d" user-id="6616726"/> Thank you so much for sharing your experience with us! I hope the medication continues to work in your favor regarding Parkinson's. Wishing you all the best, Abby (team member).
USMC201Vet Member
I do not have Parkinson's but I do have AMD. Dry in the left eye and wet in the right eye. Since the drug manufactures have full control of what is given to the people to take re-prescribtions I see little hope for carbidopa levodopa 25-100 mg. However if the doctor's had courage they could prescribe it as an off label to their paitents. I also see hope with adult stem cell reseach for AMD. I am not taking carbidopa levodopa 25-100 mg as the VA will not prescribe it for me saying it is not approved by the VA. I refuse to take shots in the eyes. Read to many bad things about it. So, I just pray God will reach down and hear my prayer and heal my eyes. Stay safe USMC201Vet 
1. Brown Eyed Girl Moderator
 <inline-mention username="USMC201Vet" user-id="6607114"/> it is an interesting topic and thank you for elaborating on your situation. I wish you all the best with your eyes on the path you have chosen. Wendy, Patient Leader.