Levodopa
Sinemet is the only levodopa product in the Neurology range listed here. It pairs levodopa with carbidopa in three strengths, from 100 mg + 10 mg up to 250 mg + 25 mg, for Parkinson’s Disease and Parkinsonism.
Key points
- Levodopa is a central nervous system agent that replaces the dopamine Parkinson’s disease depletes in the brain.
- It is the most effective medication for controlling slowness and stiffness in idiopathic Parkinson’s disease.
- Stopping levodopa and carbidopa suddenly can cause fever, rigid muscles, and confusion; the dose must be reduced gradually.
How does Levodopa work?
Levodopa is the building block the brain converts into dopamine. Unlike dopamine itself, levodopa can cross the blood-brain barrier, where it becomes dopamine to compensate for what the disease has depleted. Carbidopa, the second ingredient in Sinemet, stops levodopa from breaking down in the rest of the body before it reaches the brain. This allows a lower dose of levodopa and causes less nausea. Levodopa controls Parkinson’s symptoms but does not cure the condition, and it may take several months before the full benefit is felt.