How does levodopa help Parkinson's disease?
Levodopa is a medication that is used to treat people with Parkinson’s disease and those with Parkinson’s-like symptoms that have developed due to an injury or illness. It was discovered in the 1960s.
Parkinson’s disease is a progressive, neurodegenerative disorder. The symptoms of Parkinson’s are caused by a lack of dopamine in an area of the brain called the corpus striatum and commonly include a tremor or shaking while at rest, stiffness and slowness of movement (bradykinesia).
Dopamine is a neurotransmitter, or messenger, that passes signals between nerve cells and is involved in regulating the signals involved in movement.
What does levodopa do for Parkinson’s disease?
Levodopa is a central nervous system agent that helps people with Parkinson’s because it is converted into dopamine in the brain. It helps to alleviate the symptoms of Parkinson’s disease by providing a supply of dopamine.
Simply treating people with Parkinson’s disease with dopamine does not work because dopamine can not cross the blood-brain barrier. Levodopa - a metabolic precursor of dopamine - can cross the blood-brain barrier, however.
Levodopa is available in a range of different dosage forms that combine levodopa and carbidopa, such as Sinemet tablets.
Carbidopa is a decarboxylase inhibitor that prevents levodopa from being broken down before it reaches its site of action, the brain. It enables lower doses of levodopa to be used, which reduces the nausea and vomiting patients can experience while taking the drug.
Related questions
- How long does it take carbidopa levodopa to work?
- How often should carbidopa/levodopa be taken?
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Which Parkinson’s disease symptoms does levodopa help treat?
Levodopa works best to help treat the slowness and stiffness or rigidity associated with Parkinson’s disease, and in some cases may treat the tremor as well.
Does levodopa slow the progression of Parkinson’s disease?
Levodopa does not slow or reduce the progression of Parkinson’s disease. In a clinical trial, levodopa + carbidopa was found to have no disease-modifying effect when it was used in patients with early Parkinson’s disease compared with patients who started it later on in the course of their disease.
References
- Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Sinemet. Available from: https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2020/017555s072lbl.pdf. [Accessed December 17, 2020].
- US National Library of Medicine. MedlinePlus. Levodopa and Carbidopa. Available from: https://medlineplus.gov/druginfo/meds/a601068.html. [Accessed December 17, 2020].
- American Parkinson Disease Association. Carbidopa/Levodopa: Answers To Frequently Asked Questions. May 21, 2019. Available from: https://www.apdaparkinson.org/article/common-questions-about-carbidopa-levodopa/. [Accessed December 17, 2020].
- European Parkinson’s Disease Association (EPDA). Motor symptoms. Rigidity. Available from: https://www.epda.eu.com/about-parkinsons/symptoms/motor-symptoms/rigidity/. [Accessed December 17, 2020].
- European Parkinson’s Disease Association (EPDA). Motor symptoms. Bradykinesia. Available from: https://www.epda.eu.com/about-parkinsons/symptoms/motor-symptoms/bradykinesia/. [Accessed December 17, 2020].
- Verschuur CVM, Suwijn SR, Boel JA, et al. Randomized Delayed-Start Trial of Levodopa in Parkinson's Disease. N Engl J Med. 2019;380(4):315-324. doi:10.1056/NEJMoa1809983.
Read next
How much does Inbrija cost?
The out-of-pocket cash price for Inbrija (levodopa inhalation) 42 mg inhalation capsules is about $1,295 for a supply of 60 capsules, but most people do not pay this price. If you have commercial insurance and Inbrija is covered on your plan, you may be eligible to receive it for as little as $30 per month. Continue reading
When is the best time to take Ongentys?
The recommended time to take Ongentys (opicapone) is once daily at bedtime and at least one hour after food. Eating is also not recommended for an hour of taking Ongentys.
By taking Ongentys at night or at least one hour apart from levodopa, the amount of levodopa available after a dose is increased, but any interaction between the two drugs during the levodopa absorption phase is avoided. Taking Ongentys at night means that there’s greater flexibility to adjust when levodopa is taken during the day, without the need to consider potential absorption interactions. Continue reading
What is Gocovri used to treat?
Gocovri (amantadine) is used for the treatment of dyskinesia in patients with Parkinson's disease receiving levodopa-based therapy, with or without concomitant dopaminergic medication. It is also used as an add-on therapy in Parkinson's patients who are being treated with levodopa/carbidopa and who are experiencing "off" episodes. Continue reading
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