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Glite Dictionary
L-dopa

L-dopa

1 6.0
A medicine used to treat Parkinson's disease by replacing a chemical in the brain
  • noun
  • /ˈel ˈdoʊpə/
  • Specialized
translation icon : L-dopa
  • Research shows that L-dopa can significantly improve the quality of life for those suffering from Parkinson's.
  • a drug called L-Dopa

There is L dopa which helps to supplement the loss in dopamine cells, but there isn't an actual treatment for Parkinson's at the moment.

Examples

  • And what you wind up seeing is if you give a Parkinsonian patient too much L dopa, they become psychotic.

  • There is L dopa which helps to supplement the loss in dopamine cells, but there isn't an actual treatment for Parkinson's at the moment.

    The Royal Institution

  • It turns out when you give L dopa to people, it gets converted biochemically into natural dopamine, which then serves as its own agonist.

  • He had heard about an experimental drug called L-dopa, which is commonly used to treat Parkinson's disease.

  • Patients with Parkinson's disease often find relief from symptoms with L-dopa treatment.

Synonyms

levodopa
vsL-dopa
  • Specialized
1 6.5

A medicine used to treat Parkinson's disease that helps people move

is the same substance but written as a hyphenated chemical label
dihydroxyphenylalanine
vsL-dopa
  • Specialized
9.9

A natural substance made in the body that the brain uses to make dopamine

is the same compound but named as the drug used for treatment
Brocadopa
vsL-dopa
  • Specialized
9.3

A brand of the medicine levodopa used to treat Parkinson's disease

is the generic chemical name for that same medication
Bendopa
vsL-dopa
  • Specialized
7.8

A medicine doctors give to people with Parkinson's disease to help them move better

is the general chemical label for the active therapeutic form
Larodopa
vsL-dopa
  • Specialized
8.7

A medicine that contains levodopa to treat Parkinson's disease

is the technical chemical term for the active levorotatory form

Surface Forms

L-dopa singular
L-dopas plural

Morphology

L-dopa = dopa (opaque) = L- + dopa

The 'L-' notation indicates stereochemistry (levorotatory) and 'dopa' is a technical chemical name; this specialized notation and meaning are not derivable by an average B1 learner from the parts.

Etymology

L-dopa is named for the 'left' form (L-) of DOPA, a body chemical the brain changes into dopamine, a well-known brain messenger. So L-dopa is used as a medicine because it raises dopamine and helps people with Parkinson's disease.