Indication: For the treatment of idiopathic Parkinson's disease (Paralysis Agitans), postencephalitic parkinsonism, symptomatic parkinsonism which may follow injury to the nervous system by carbon monoxide intoxication, and manganese intoxication.
Pharmacology: Levodopa (L-dopa) is used to replace dopamine lost in Parkinson's disease because dopamine itself cannot cross the blood-brain barrier where its precursor can. However, L-DOPA is converted to dopamine in the periphery as well as in the CNS, so it is administered with a peripheral DDC (dopamine decarboxylase) inhibitor such as carbidopa, without which 90% is metabolised in the gut wall, and with a COMT inhibitor if possible; this prevents about a 5% loss. The form given therapeutically is therefore a prodrug which avoids decarboxylation in the stomach and periphery, can cross the blood-brain barrier, and once in the brain is converted to the neurotransmitter dopamine by the enzyme aromatic-L-amino-acid decarboxylase.
Mechanism Of Action: Striatal dopamine levels in symptomatic Parkinson's disease are decreased by 60 to 80%, striatal dopaminergic neurotransmission may be enhanced by exogenous supplementation of dopamine through administration of dopamine's precursor, levodopa. A small percentage of each levodopa dose crosses the blood-brain barrier and is decarboxylated to dopamine. This newly formed dopamine then is available to stimulate dopaminergic receptors, thus compensating for the depleted supply of endogenous dopamine.
Drug Category: Dopamine Agents; Antiparkinson Agents; Antidyskinetics; ATC:N04BA01; ATC:N04BA04
Dosage Forms: Tablets, pink, scored, each containing levodopa 0.1 g
Absorption: Levodopa is rapidly absorbed from the proximal small intestine by the large neutral amino acid (LNAA) transport carrier system.
Interactions:
DrugBank: Interactions for Levodopa
Interactions for Levodopa:
No information provided.
Chemical IUPAC Name: 2-amino-3-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)-propanoic acid
Chemical Formula: C9H11NO4
Half Life: 50 to 90 minutes
Drug Type: Approved Drug
# Accession No: APRD00309
CAS Registry Number: 59-92-7
Levodopa News (When available)
‘Time not right for stem cell experiment in Parkinson’s’15 Jan 2006 Peninsula On-line, ...admitted. "The most effective drug and cheapest treatment for Parkinson's Disease remains L-Dopa, which has been around for 40 years. ...
L-dopa therapy, other Parkinson’s optionsJan 10, 2006 Newsday, I believe my father has Parkinson's disease, and from what I've read, he only has a few years left. Might L-dopa therapy make a difference? ...
Is sleeping sickness linked to Spanish flu of 1918?Jan 2, 2006 Toronto Star, In 1969, Sacks administered the miracle awakening drug, laevo-dihydroxyphenylalanine, or L-DOPA, to his post-encephalitic patients. ...
Drug therapy no cure-all for Parkinson’sJan 8, 2006 Fort Wayne Journal Gazette, ...he only has a few years left. Might L-dopa therapy make a difference? – Marietta, Ga. Answer: I would first recommend that your ...
Fox Foundation Grant Funds Major Gene Therapy Advance For ...Jan 8, 2006 Medical News Today (press release), Current treatment options focus on replacing lost dopamine with the drug levodopa (L-dopa), which converts to dopamine in the brain, or brain surgery to ...
Suicide is PainlessDec 21, 2005 Maisonnueve, Like the sudden, brief clarity exhibited by coma patients on L-DOPA, George believes he may have escaped ruin—but, in fact, he’s still in a position where ...
Doug Dugal column: Bio-refining is the new buzz wordDec 18, 2005 Appleton Post Crescent, ...energy from the destructive distillation of wood; alcohol and yeast for fodder from sulfite pulping liquors; vanilla; glucose; medicine like L-dopa, from other ...
‘Time not right for stem cell experiment in Parkinson’s’16 Jan 2006 Peninsula On-line, ...admitted. "The most effective drug and cheapest treatment for Parkinson's Disease remains L-Dopa, which has been around for 40 years. ...
L-dopa therapy, other Parkinson’s optionsJan 10, 2006 Newsday, I believe my father has Parkinson's disease, and from what I've read, he only has a few years left. Might L-dopa therapy make a difference? ...
Is sleeping sickness linked to Spanish flu of 1918?Jan 2, 2006 Toronto Star, In 1969, Sacks administered the miracle awakening drug, laevo-dihydroxyphenylalanine, or L-DOPA, to his post-encephalitic patients. ...
Drug therapy no cure-all for Parkinson’sJan 8, 2006 Fort Wayne Journal Gazette, ...he only has a few years left. Might L-dopa therapy make a difference? – Marietta, Ga. Answer: I would first recommend that your ...
Fox Foundation grant funds major gene therapy advance for ...Jan 5, 2006 EurekAlert (press release), Current treatment options focus on replacing lost dopamine with the drug levodopa (L-dopa), which converts to dopamine in the brain, or brain surgery to ...
Suicide is PainlessDec 21, 2005 Maisonnueve, Like the sudden, brief clarity exhibited by coma patients on L-DOPA, George believes he may have escaped ruin—but, in fact, he’s still in a position where ...
Doug Dugal column: Bio-refining is the new buzz wordDec 18, 2005 Appleton Post Crescent, ...energy from the destructive distillation of wood; alcohol and yeast for fodder from sulfite pulping liquors; vanilla; glucose; medicine like L-dopa, from other ...
Smile, you’re on candid cameraJan 9, 2006 Financial Express, For sister concerns, CNBC and Awaaz, undercover operations don’t feature on their agenda, although their show Parda Faash exposes corporate corruption. ...
Swami in a soupJan 11, 2006 Mid-Day Mumbai, ...most complicated yogic pose. We shall coin this new yogic position and call it the Haddi chakkar parda faash asana. Some tests have ...
Nonstop marathon manJan 1, 2006 Whittier Daily News, With the medication Sinemet, Ball felt well enough to resume running - a sport he has loved since high school. Soon he was competing in 5K and 10K races. ...
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