Last update March 19, 2020

ليفودوبا

Likely Compatibility

Fairly safe. Mild or unlikely adverse effects. Compatible under certain circumstances. Follow-up recommended. Read Commentary.

A natural amino acid, an immediate precursor of dopamine and with similar effects to it.
Indicated in the treatment of Parkinson's disease, where there is a lack of dopamine in the brain, where it acts as a neurotransmitter.
In order to avoid the peripheral effects of levodopa by becoming dopamine (nausea, vomiting, arrhythmias), levodopa is associated with carbidopa or benserazide, which block peripheral enzymes that metabolize levodopa, and allow more levodopa to reach the brain and it can be given at a lower dose.
Oral administration 3 to 4 times a day.


Although data is limited, levodopa is excreted in breastmilk in clinically non-significant amounts, 100 times lower than the dose used in infants who need it (Thulin 1998) and no short or long-term problems have been observed in infants whose mothers took it (Thulin 1998).

Levodopa decreases prolactin secretion (WHO 2002, Petraglia 1987, Nattero 1986, Linkowski 1983, Kaulhausen 1982, Rao 1982), but the stimulation of infant sucking is usually sufficient to ensure the production of breastmilk; in fact, a mother breastfed for at least 4.5 months while continuing treatment (Thulin 1998).
Another mother, suffering from Parkinson's which was very difficult control, with continuous intravenous infusion of levodopa and carbidopa gel in duodenal administration since pregnancy, breastfed for three months: the psychomotor development of the infant was normal, but not the child’s weight which was affected by malnutrition intrauterine (Zlotnik 2014).

Carbidopa, which is always associated with levodopa, inhibits the suppressive effects of levodopa on prolactin (Camanni 1978).

Levodopa does not preclude breastfeeding (Thulin 1998).


See below the information of this related product:

  • Carbidopa (Fairly safe. Mild or unlikely adverse effects. Compatible under certain circumstances. Follow-up recommended. Read Commentary.)

Alternatives

We do not have alternatives for ليفودوبا.

Suggestions made at e-lactancia are done by APILAM team of health professionals, and are based on updated scientific publications. It is not intended to replace the relationship you have with your doctor but to compound it. The pharmaceutical industry contraindicates breastfeeding, mistakenly and without scientific reasons, in most of the drug data sheets.

Jose Maria Paricio, Founder & President of APILAM/e-Lactancia

Your contribution is essential for this service to continue to exist. We need the generosity of people like you who believe in the benefits of breastfeeding.

Thank you for helping to protect and promote breastfeeding.

José María Paricio, founder of e-lactancia.

Other names

ليفودوبا is Levodopa in Arabic.

Is written in other languages:

ليفودوبا is also known as

Group

ليفودوبا belongs to this group or family:

Tradenames

Main tradenames from several countries containing ليفودوبا in its composition:

  • Carlevod™. Contains other elements than ليفودوبا in its composition
  • Cloison™. Contains other elements than ليفودوبا in its composition
  • Credanil™. Contains other elements than ليفودوبا in its composition
  • Dopar
  • Duodopa™. Contains other elements than ليفودوبا in its composition
  • Larodopa
  • Lebocar™. Contains other elements than ليفودوبا in its composition
  • Lecarge™. Contains other elements than ليفودوبا in its composition
  • Madopar
  • Nakom™. Contains other elements than ليفودوبا in its composition
  • Nervocur™. Contains other elements than ليفودوبا in its composition
  • Parkinel™. Contains other elements than ليفودوبا in its composition
  • Prikap™. Contains other elements than ليفودوبا in its composition
  • Racovel™. Contains other elements than ليفودوبا in its composition
  • Sinemet™. Contains other elements than ليفودوبا in its composition
  • Symblyopia (思利巴)
  • Ternovag™. Contains other elements than ليفودوبا in its composition

Pharmacokinetics

Variable Value Unit
Oral Bioavail. 70 %
Molecular weight 197 daltons
Protein Binding 10 - 30 %
VD 0.9 - 1.6 l/Kg
pKa 9.06 -
Tmax 0.5 - 2 hours
1 - 1.5 hours
M/P ratio 0.2 - 0.3 -
Theoretical Dose 0.05 - 0.1 mg/Kg/d
Relative Dose 0.3 - 0.8 %

References

  1. Merck. Levodopa/Carbidopa (Sinemet). Drug Summary. 2018 Full text (in our servers)
  2. AEMPS - MSD. Levodopa/Carbidopa (Sinemet). Ficha técnica. 2017 Full text (in our servers)
  3. Zlotnik Y, Giladi N, Hilel A, Shapira Y, Goldstein S, Gurevich T. Levodopa-carbidopa intestinal gel (LCIG) infusion during pregnancy and delivery: first documented case. Parkinsonism Relat Disord. 2014 Nov;20(11):1317-8. Abstract
  4. WHO / UNICEF. BREASTFEEDING AND MATERNAL MEDICATION Recommendations for Drugs in the Eleventh WHO Model List of Essential Drugs. Department of Child and Adolescent Health and Development (WHO/UNICEF) 2002 Abstract Full text (link to original source) Full text (in our servers)
  5. Thulin PC, Woodward WR, Carter JH, Nutt JG. Levodopa in human breast milk: clinical implications. Neurology. 1998 Jun;50(6):1920-1. No abstract available. Abstract
  6. Petraglia F, De Leo V, Sardelli S, Mazzullo G, Gioffrè WR, Genazzani AR, D'Antona N. Prolactin changes after administration of agonist and antagonist dopaminergic drugs in puerperal women. Gynecol Obstet Invest. 1987;23(2):103-9. Abstract
  7. Nattero G, Corno M, Savi L, Isaia GC, Priolo C, Mussetta M. Prolactin and migraine: effect of L-dopa on plasma prolactin levels in migraineurs and normals. Headache. 1986 Jan;26(1):9-12. No abstract available. Abstract
  8. Messinis IE, Souvatzoglou A, Fais N, Lolis D. Histamine H1 receptor participation in the control of prolactin secretion in postpartum. J Endocrinol Invest. 1985 Apr;8(2):143-6. Abstract
  9. Linkowski P, Brauman H, Mendlewicz J. Prolactin and growth hormone response to levodopa in affective illness. Neuropsychobiology. 1983;9(2-3):108-12. Abstract
  10. Rao R, Scommegna A, Frohman LA. Integrity of central dopaminergic system in women with postpartum hyperprolactinemia. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 1982 Aug 15;143(8):883-7. Abstract
  11. Kaulhausen H, Oney T, Leyendecker G. Inhibition of the renin--aldosterone axis and of prolactin secretion during pregnancy by L-dopa. Br J Obstet Gynaecol. 1982 Jun;89(6):483-8. Abstract
  12. Camanni F, Picotti GB, Massara F, Molinatti GM, Mantegazza P, Müller EE. Carbidopa inhibits the growth hormone- and prolactin-suppressive effect of L-dopa in acromegalic patients. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 1978 Sep;47(3):647-52. Abstract

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