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