Levodopa
Levodopa is a metabolic precursor of dopamine and the primary treatment for Parkinson's disease. Unlike dopamine itself, it crosses the blood-brain barrier, where it is converted to the neurotransmitter to replace what is lost as the disease progresses. It is almost always combined with carbidopa, which prevents its breakdown outside the brain and reduces side effects. The amino-acid derivative has the formula C9H11NO4 and is marketed in combinations such as Carbidopa-Levodopa and Duopa.
A dopamine precursor used as the primary treatment for Parkinson's disease, where it is converted to dopamine in the brain to replace the lost chemical messenger. It is typically combined with carbidopa to enhance its effectiveness and reduce side effects.
Molecular Weight
197.1880 g/mol
LogP
-2.70
TPSA
104.00 Ų
Lipinski RO5
Pass
Therapeutic Areas
Drug Classes
Mechanism of Action
Metabolic precursor of dopamine that crosses the BBB.
Pharmacokinetics (PK)
Pharmacodynamics (PD)
Metabolic precursor of dopamine that crosses the BBB.
2D Structure
Cite this structure
Embed this structure
SMILES
N[C@@H](Cc1ccc(O)c(O)c1)C(=O)O
InChI
InChI=1S/C9H11NO4/c10-6(9(13)14)3-5-1-2-7(11)8(12)4-5/h1-2,4,6,11-12H,3,10H2,(H,13,14)/t6-/m0/s1
Molecular Formula
C9H11NO4
HBD / HBA
4 / 5
Rotatable Bonds
3
Heavy Atoms
14
No targets recorded
Target interaction data is not yet available for this drug.
Quetiapine, a D2 receptor antagonist, pharmacodynamically opposes levodopa's dopaminergic effect, worsening Parkinson's disease motor symptoms.
Aripiprazole acts as a partial D2 agonist/antagonist and can oppose levodopa's dopaminergic therapy, worsening Parkinson's disease symptoms.
Carbamazepine may reduce levodopa efficacy through enzyme induction and pharmacodynamic antagonism, potentially worsening Parkinson's disease control.
No side effects recorded
Side effect data is not yet available for this drug.
Frequently Asked Questions
A dopamine precursor used as the primary treatment for Parkinson's disease, where it is converted to dopamine in the brain to replace the lost chemical messenger. It is typically combined with carbidopa to enhance its effectiveness and reduce side effects.
Metabolic precursor of dopamine that crosses the BBB.
Key pharmacokinetic parameters for Levodopa: Half-life: 1.5 hours.
Yes, Levodopa is an approved drug. It has reached clinical phase 4. It is classified as a Small molecule.
Related Drugs
References & Data Sources
- ChEMBL — European Bioinformatics Institute (EBI). CHEMBL1009. Open-access bioactivity database.
- PubChem — National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI). CID 6047. Chemical information database.
Data aggregated from publicly available pharmacological databases. Last updated 2026-03-04.
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