Levodopa is a medication used to treat Parkinson's disease. Parkinson's disease is associated with low levels of a chemical called dopamine (doe pa meen) in the brain. Levodopa is turned into dopamine in the body and therefore increases levels of this chemical.

This medication is also used to treat these same muscular conditions when they are caused by drugs such as chlorpromazine (Thorazine®), fluphenazine (Prolixin®), and perphenazine (Trilafon®).

Levodopa is often used in combination with carbidopa.

NOTE: Parkinson's disease is one of the most common movement-affecting disorders. About 50,000 people in the United States are diagnosed with Parkinson's disease every year. The condition is a disease of late middle age. On average, Parkinson's disease develops at the age of 60, and the rate of new cases peaks near 75. However, 5% of people who have Parkinson's disease are under the age of 40.

 

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In case of an emergency/overdose