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
3-Hydroxy-L-tyrosine
(−)-dopa
L-3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine
(−)-3-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)-L-alanine
L-beta-(3,4-Dihydroxyphenyl)alanine
L-DOPA
Levodopum
Dihydroxy-L-phenylalanine
3,4-Dihydroxy-L-phenylalanine
Levodopa
β-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)-L-alanine
β-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)alanine
Brand Names
Duopa
Levodopa-carbidopa CR
Carbidopa, Levodopa and Entacapone
Ratio-levodopa/carbidopa
Mint-levocarb
Apo-levocarb
Stalevo
Crexont
Carbidopa, Levodopa, and Entacapone
Carbidopa, levodopa and entacapone
Sinemet CR
Pro-lecarb-100/25 - Tab
Carbidopa and Levodopa
Prolopa Cap 50-12.5
Prolopa Cap 200-50
Parcopa
Inbrija
Sinemet CR 100/25
Auro-levocarb
Carbidopa-levodopa
Levodopa/carbidopa/entacapone Orion
Prolopa Cap 100-25
Teva-levocarbidopa
Sinemet CR 200/50
Carbidopa and levodopa
Dhivy
Numient
Pro-levocarb - 100/25
Sandoz Levodopa-carbidopa-entacapone
Levodopa, Carbidopa and Entacapone Tablets
Duodopa
Corbilta
Levodopa-carbidopa
Rytary
Jamp Levocarb
Dom-levo-carbidopa
Sinemet 100/10
Aa-levocarb CR
PMS-levodopa-carbidopa
Pro-lecarb-100/10 - Tab
Ag-levocarb
Sinemet
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
