What is Levodopa - Meaning and definition

Published by Roberto Wenk. Last updated date: February 17, 2016.

An amino acid precursor of dopamine with antiparkinsonian properties.
Levodopa is a prodrug that is converted to dopamine by DOPA decarboxylase and can cross the blood-brain barrier. When in the brain, levodopa is decarboxylated to dopamine and stimulates the dopaminergic receptors, thereby compensating for the depleted supply of endogenous dopamine seen in Parkinson's disease. To assure that adequate concentrations of levodopa reach the central nervous system, it is administered with carbidopa, a decarboxylase inhibitor that does not cross the blood-brain barrier, thereby diminishing the decarboxylation and inactivation of levodopa in peripheral tissues and increasing the delivery of dopamine to the CNS.

National Cancer Institute. NCI Drug Dictionary. Internet. September 15, 2009.

Published by Roberto Wenk. Reviewed by Alison Ramsey. Last updated date: January 8, 2019.

Adult
PO
Parkinsonism. Initial: 125 mg twice daily, increase at 3-4 day intervals if needed. Max: 8 g/day.
When used with benserazide:
- levodopa-naive patients. Initial: 50 mg 3-4 times/day (advanced stage: 100 mg 3 times/day), increase as directed. Maintenance: 400-800 mg/day in divided doses.
- patients previously on levodopa monotherapy: 10-15% of previous usual dose.
- patients previously on other levodopa/dopa-decarboxylase combination therapy. Initial: 50 mg 3-4 times/day.
When used with carbidopa:
- levodopa-naive patients. Initial: 100 mg 3 times/day, increase as directed. Maintenance: 0.75-2 g/day in divided doses.
- patients previously on levodopa monotherapy: 20-25% of the dose previously taken 3 or 4 times daily.
- patients previously on other levodopa/dopa-decarboxylase combination therapy: initial dose should provide the same daily levodopa dose.

Adverse drug reactions: GI disturbances, orthostatic hypotension, cardiac arrhythmias, depression, dyskinesias, delirium, hallucinations.

Adapted from CIMS Drug Information System. Internet. Accessed on January 10, 2016.

Levodopa

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