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