Levodopa is a prodrug of dopamine that is administered to patients with Parkinson's due to its ability to cross the blood-brain barrier[Label]. Levodopa can be metabolised to dopamine on either side of the blood-brain barrier and so it is generally administered with a dopa decarboxylase inhibitor like carbidopa to prevent metabolism until after it has crossed the blood-brain barrier[Label,A177781]. Once past the blood-brain barrier, levodopa is metabolized to dopamine and supplements the low endogenous levels of dopamine to treat symptoms of Parkinson's[Label]. The first developed drug product that was approved by the FDA was a levodopa and carbidopa combined product called Sinemet that was approved on May 2, 1975[A177781,L6133].
Synonyms
L-3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine
Levodopa
L-beta-(3,4-Dihydroxyphenyl)alanine
β-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)-L-alanine
3,4-Dihydroxy-L-phenylalanine
(−)-3-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)-L-alanine
Levodopum
L-DOPA
3-Hydroxy-L-tyrosine
Dihydroxy-L-phenylalanine
(−)-dopa
LDOPA
β-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)alanine
Brand Names
Sinemet CR 200/50
Prolopa Cap 100-25
Apo-levocarb
Aa-levocarb CR
Prolopa Cap 50-12.5
Parcopa
Inbrija
Duodopa
Sinemet CR
Corbilta
Pro-lecarb-100/10 - Tab
Sinemet
Sinemet 100/10
Levodopa/carbidopa/entacapone Orion
Pro-lecarb-100/25 - Tab
Teva-levocarbidopa
Carbidopa-levodopa
Carbidopa, Levodopa, and Entacapone
Ag-levocarb
Dom-levo-carbidopa
Carbidopa, levodopa and entacapone
Levodopa-carbidopa
Sinemet CR 100/25
Duopa
PMS-levodopa-carbidopa
Pro-levocarb - 100/25
Jamp Levocarb
Sandoz Levodopa-carbidopa-entacapone
Auro-levocarb
Ratio-levodopa/carbidopa
Dhivy
Carbidopa, Levodopa and Entacapone
Rytary
Levodopa-carbidopa CR
Crexont
Prolopa Cap 200-50
Carbidopa and levodopa
Stalevo
Mint-levocarb
Numient
Carbidopa and Levodopa
Levodopa, Carbidopa and Entacapone Tablets
Indication
Levodopa on its own is formulated as an oral inhalation powder indicated for intermittent treatment of off episodes in Parkinson's patients who are already being treated with carbidopa and levodopa[FDA Label]. Levodopa is most commonly formulated as an oral tablet with a peripheral dopa decarboxylase inhibitor indicated for treatment of Parkinson's disease, post-encephalitic parkinsonism, and symptomatic parkinsonism following carbon monoxide intoxication or manganese intoxication[F4579].
Categories
Amines
Amino Acids
Amino Acids, Aromatic
Amino Acids, Cyclic
Amino Acids, Peptides, and Proteins
Anti-Dyskinesia Agents
Anti-Parkinson Agents (Dopamine Agonist)
Anti-Parkinson Drugs
Benzene Derivatives
Biogenic Amines
Biogenic Monoamines
Catecholamines
Catechols
Central Nervous System Agents
Central Nervous System Depressants
Dihydroxyphenylalanine
Dopa and Dopa Derivatives
Dopamine Agents
Hypotensive Agents
Levodopa, antagonists & inhibitors
Nervous System
Neurotransmitter Agents
Phenols
Serotonergic Drugs Shown to Increase Risk of Serotonin Syndrome
Drug Info/Drug Targets: DrugBank 3.0: a comprehensive resource for 'omics' research on drugs. Knox C, Law V, Jewison
T, Liu P, Ly S, Frolkis A, Pon A, Banco K, Mak C, Neveu V, Djoumbou Y, Eisner R, Guo AC, Wishart DS.
Nucleic Acids Res. 2011 Jan; 39 (Database issue):D1035-41. | PMID:21059682
