Class: Dopamine Precursors
- Antiparkinsonian Agents
VA Class: CN500
CAS Number: 59-92-7
Brands: Lodosyn
Levodopa/Carbidopa is also contained as an ingredient in the following combinations:
Carbidopa and Levodopa
Introduction
Antiparkinsonian agent; levodopa is the levorotatory isomer of dihydroxyphenylalanine and the metabolic precursor of dopamine, and carbidopa is a decarboxylase inhibitor that inhibits the peripheral decarboxylation of levodopa to dopamine.
Uses for Levodopa/Carbidopa
Parkinsonian Syndrome
Levodopa is used for symptomatic treatment of parkinsonian syndrome, including parkinson disease, postencephalitic parkinsonism, and symptomatic parkinsonian syndrome resulting from carbon monoxide intoxication or manganese intoxication. Available in various fixed-combination preparations with carbidopa for this use.
Carbidopa is used to inhibit decarboxylation of peripheral levodopa and increase the amount of levodopa available for transport to the brain. Available in fixed combination with levodopa and also as a single-entity preparation for use in patients receiving levodopa-carbidopa who require additional carbidopa to reduce nausea and vomiting and/or facilitate more rapid dosage titration.
Levodopa (in combination with carbidopa) is currently the most effective drug for relieving motor symptoms of parkinson disease. However, effectiveness decreases over time and most patients develop motor fluctuations and dyskinesias (drug-induced involuntary movements) with long-term use.
Strategies to reduce risk of motor complications include adjusting dosage of levodopa, adding other antiparkinsonian agents (e.g., dopamine receptor agonist [e.g., pramipexole, ropinirole, rotigotine], selective monoamine oxidase [MAO]-B inhibitor [e.g., rasagiline, safinamide, selegiline], catechol-O-methyltransferase [COMT] inhibitor [e.g., entacapone, tolcapone], amantadine), or initiating .
