Chemicals and Drugs

Levodopa

The naturally occurring form of DIHYDROXYPHENYLALANINE and the immediate precursor of DOPAMINE. Unlike dopamine itself, it can be taken orally and crosses the blood-brain barrier. It is rapidly taken up by dopaminergic neurons and converted to DOPAMINE. It is used for the treatment of PARKINSONIAN DISORDERS and is usually given with agents that inhibit its conversion to dopamine outside of the central nervous system.

National Library of MedicineMedical Subject Headings2026

Structured Summary

Abstract

The naturally occurring form of DIHYDROXYPHENYLALANINE and the immediate precursor of DOPAMINE. Unlike dopamine itself, it can be taken orally and crosses the blood-brain barrier. It is rapidly taken up by dopaminergic neurons and converted to DOPAMINE. It is used for the treatment of PARKINSONIAN DISORDERS and is usually given with agents that inhibit its conversion to dopamine outside of the central nervous system.

MeSH Record

Classification

Broader headings

Related Concepts

Knowledge Graph

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Drug Class

Pharmacological Action

MeSH Record

See Also

MeSH Record

Synonyms

10 entry terms
  • 3-Hydroxy-L-tyrosine
  • L-3,4-Dihydroxyphenylalanine
  • L-Dopa
  • 3 Hydroxy L tyrosine
  • L 3,4 Dihydroxyphenylalanine
  • L Dopa
  • Dopaflex
  • Dopar
  • Larodopa
  • Levopa

MeSH Record

Aspects Covered

29 allowable subheadings

Indexed with the subheadings administration & dosage, adverse effects, agonists, analogs & derivatives, analysis, antagonists & inhibitors, biosynthesis, blood, cerebrospinal fluid, chemical synthesis, chemistry, classification, deficiency, economics, genetics, history, immunology, isolation & purification, metabolism, pharmacokinetics, pharmacology, physiology, poisoning, radiation effects, standards, supply & distribution, therapeutic use, toxicity, urine.

MeSH Record

History Note

75; was see DOPA 1972-74

MeSH Record

Previous Indexing

  • Dopa (1966-1974)

MeSH Hierarchy

Tree Numbers

  1. D02w.092w.311w.200.480w
  2. D02w.455w.426w.559w.389.657w.166.175w.200.480w
  3. D12.125w.072.050w.685w.400.500w
  4. D12.125w.072.050w.875.130.500w

MeSH Record

NLM Classification

WK 725

AMA Style

References

  1. National Library of Medicine. Levodopa. Medical Subject Headings (MeSH). 2026. Unique ID D007980. http://id.nlm.nih.gov/mesh/2026/D007980
  2. Levodopa. In: Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/L-DOPA
  3. Levodopa. In: Wikidata. https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q300989