Levodopa

Levodopa is a prodrug of dopamine that is administered to patients with Parkinson’s due to its ability to cross the blood-brain barrier. 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. 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. It is grouped under the following drug class(es): Dopamine agents and Neurotransmitter agents. Its therapeutic use is listed as antiparkinsonian agents and central nervous system (CNS) agents. The directory classifies it as a commercial API with a natural source/manufacturing origin. Other names for this substance include Larodopa, Bendopa and Levopa. Its PubChem CID is 6047.