Levodopa
Information about Levodopa
Levodopa uses
Levodopa is used in the treatment of Parkinson's disease.
How levodopa works
Levodopa works by being converted to dopamine, a chemical messenger that is needed to control the movement through transmission of signals in the brain.
Common side effects of levodopa
Nausea, Vomiting, Dizziness, Loss of appetite, Orthostatic hypotension (sudden lowering of blood pressure on standing), Movement disorder
Content Details
Last updated on:
27 Dec 2019 | 01:08 PM (IST)
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Expert advice for Levodopa
- Take it with or without food or as suggested by your doctor.
- Avoid a high-protein diet (e.g. meat, eggs, and dairy products) while you are taking this medicine as it can reduce the amount of medication absorbed by your body.
- Avoid vitamin supplements while taking Levodopa as it may reduce the effectiveness of the medicine.
- It may cause dizziness. Do not drive or do anything that requires mental focus until you know how this medicine affects you.
- When you start the medication, get out of bed slowly, as the medication may cause lightheadedness or fainting.
- Inform your doctor if you notice an urge to gamble, increased sexual urges, binge eating, or uncontrolled spending.
- Do not stop taking the medication without talking to your doctor first.
Frequently asked questions for Levodopa
Levodopa
Q. Is levodopa a controlled substance/ a narcotic/ addictive/ lipid soluble/ a dopamine agonist/ a prodrug/ a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI)/ toxic/ an anticholinergic?
Levopoda is a lipid soluble prodrug that gets converted into dopamine when it crosses the blood brain barrier. It is not a dopamine agonist, controlled substance, narcotic, MAOI, toxic or anticholinergic. It may cause addiction in some patients
Q. Does Levodopa work/ stop tremors?
Levodopa is used to treat the symptoms of Parkinson's disease which includes tremors (shaking), stiffness, and slowness of movement. It works in most patients if taken at recommended dosage and duration
Q. Does Levodopa cause dyskinesia/ dementia/ accelerate Parkinson's disease/ get you high/stop cause constipation/ urine discoloration?
Levopoda may cause side effects such as constipation, a feeling of high in some patients
Q. Does Levodopa help with balance?
As Levodopa helps in controlling tremors,it can improve balancing in patients.