Uses of Levodopa
Uses for levodopa
Levodopa is used alone or in combination with carbidopa to treat Parkinson’s disease, sometimes referred to as shaking palsy. Some patients require the combination of medicine, while others benefit from levodopa alone. By improving muscle control, levodopa allows more normal movements of the body.
Levodopa alone or in combination is available only with your doctor’s prescription.
Before using levodopa
In deciding to use a medicine, the risks of taking the medicine must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For levodopa, the following should be considered:
Allergies
Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to levodopa or any other medicines. Also tell your health care professional if you have any other types of allergies, such as to foods, dyes, preservatives, or animals. For non-prescription products, read the label or package ingredients carefully.
Pediatric
Studies on levodopa have been done only in adult patients, and there is no specific information comparing use of levodopa or carbidopa in children with use in other age groups.
Geriatric
Elderly people are especially sensitive to the effects of levodopa. This may increase the chance of side effects during treatment.
Breastfeeding
Studies suggest that this medication may alter milk production or composition. If an alternative to this medication is not prescribed, you should monitor the infant for side effects and adequate milk intake.
Interactions with medicines
Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are taking levodopa, it is especially important that your healthcare professional know if you are taking any of the medicines listed below. The following interactions have been selected on the basis of their potential significance and are not necessarily all-inclusive.
Using levodopa with any of the following medicines is not recommended. Your doctor may decide not to treat you with this medication or change some of the other medicines you take.
Bromopride
Clorgyline
Furazolidone
Iproniazid
Isocarboxazid
Linezolid
Methylene Blue
Moclobemide
Nialamide
Pargyline
Phenelzine
Procarbazine
Sulpiride
Toloxatone
Tranylcypromine
Using levodopa with any of the following medicines is usually not recommended, but may be required in some cases. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.
Amisulpride
Bupropion
Haloperidol
Isoniazid
Macimorelin
Metoclopramide
Olanzapine
Sapropterin
Using levodopa with any of the following medicines may cause an increased risk of certain side effects, but using both drugs may be the best treatment for you. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.
Fosphenytoin
Indinavir
Iron
Kava
Phenylalanine
Phenytoin
Spiramycin
Tyrosine
Interactions with food/tobacco/alcohol
Certain medicines should not be used at or around the time of eating food or eating certain types of food since interactions may occur. Using alcohol or tobacco with certain medicines may also cause interactions to occur. The following interactions have been selected on the basis of their potential significance and are not necessarily all-inclusive.
Using levodopa with any of the following may cause an increased risk of certain side effects but may be unavoidable in some cases. If used together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use levodopa, or give you special instructions about the use of food, alcohol, or tobacco.
High Protein Food
Other medical problems
The presence of other medical problems may affect the use of levodopa. Make sure you tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:
Diabetes mellitus (sugar diabetes)—The amount of insulin or antidiabetic medicine that you need to take may change
Emphysema, asthma, bronchitis, or other chronic lung disease or
Glaucoma or
Heart or blood vessel disease or
Hormone problems or
Melanoma (a type of skin cancer) (or history of) or
Mental illness—Levodopa may make the condition worse