Levodopa is used to treat Parkinson’s disease, but its long-term use can cause negative side effects such as dyskinesia and impaired voluntary movement. It is also available as an over-the-counter supplement, but its claimed benefits have not been clinically evaluated.
Levodopa is an intermediate step in the metabolization of the hormone dopamine from the amino acid tyrosine. Tyrosine can also metabolize into epinephrine or norepinephrine, even with levodopa as an intermediate product. In medicine, levodopa is prescribed to patients with Parkinson’s disease, as many of their symptoms are caused by a lack of natural dopamine in the brain.
Swedish scientist Arvid Carlsson pioneered the use of levodopa for patients with Parkinson’s symptoms in the 1950s and won a Nobel Prize for his work in medicine in 2000. Neurologist Oliver Sacks discussed his experiences with levodopa therapy in his 1973 book Awakenings, which was adapted to film in 1990. 2001 Nobel Prize winner William S. Knowles developed a new method for synthesizing many drugs that was primarily used for levodopa.
There are some concerns about using levodopa to treat Parkinson’s disease. Dopamine cannot be administered because it is blocked by the blood brain barrier and cannot enter the patient’s brain, but large amounts of levodopa are metabolized into dopamine in the patient’s peripheral nervous system (PNS) before even reaching the blood brain barrier. This results in a number of negative side effects, especially in the long term.
Side effects of levodopa use can include low blood pressure, arrhythmia, nausea, hair loss, confusion, emotional disturbances, gastrointestinal bleeding, insomnia, and hallucinations. With long-term use, levodopa may begin to decrease in effectiveness and may cause dyskinesia or impaired voluntary movement. As a result, clinicians prescribe levodopa sparingly and often include peripheral DOPA decarboxylase inhibitors to limit the amount of levodopa metabolized in the PNS. Despite these concerns, levodopa is thought to be safer than other drugs used to treat Parkinson’s.
Levodopa is also available in relatively small doses as an over-the-counter supplement. It is claimed to support body building and boost libido by increasing testosterone. Neither these claims nor possible side effects have been clinically evaluated. Remember to discuss any supplements you are considering taking with your doctor or nutritionist.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN
