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Glite Dictionary
levodopa

levodopa

1 6.5
A medicine used to treat Parkinson's disease that helps people move
  • noun
  • /ˌliːvoʊˈdoʊpə/
  • Specialized
translation icon : levodopa
  • Levodopa is the most reliable and effective treatment for PD symptoms, and most PD patients respond well to it (Marsden, 1994; Rao et al., 1992).
  • drugs such as levodopa
  • levodopa is the most
  • levodopa is used

Examples

  • A few early studies suggested that levodopa might have a small effect on depressive symptoms in PD, but careful, controlled studies have indicated that levodopa has little, if any, effect, despite contributing to the improvement of motor functions (Rao et al., 1992).

    Academic text (1996)

  • Start him on levodopa.

    The Cabin Movie (2005)

  • Sometimes deprenyl is combined with levodopa.

    Academic text (1996)

  • Levodopa absorption was altered by exercise.

    Academic text (2000)

  • This way, current PD treatments are based on increasing dopamine levels, with levodopa being the most extended one.

    Academic text (2016)

  • The molecule dopamine cannot be used as treatment because it is too large to cross the blood-brain barrier; therefore, its precursor levodopa is used.

    Academic text (2000)

  • Moreover, levodopa therapy for PD has not significantly changed the incidence of depression in PD.

    Academic text (1996)

  • Consequently, physicians usually prescribe carbidopa-levodopa to offset the imbalance.

    Academic text (2000)

  • Recent research findings indicated that the drug deprenyl significantly delayed the need for levodopa, especially in early, otherwise untreated, PD patients (Parkinson Study Group, 1989, 1993).

    Academic text (1996)

  • Doctors often prescribe levodopa to help manage symptoms of Parkinson's disease.

Synonyms

L-dopa
vslevodopa
  • Specialized
1 6.0

A medicine used to treat Parkinson's disease by replacing a chemical in the brain

is the standard generic name for the same chemical form
dihydroxyphenylalanine
vslevodopa
  • Specialized
9.9

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

is the common medical name for that chemical form
Brocadopa
vslevodopa
  • Specialized
9.3

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

is the generic chemical name rather than a brand
Larodopa
vslevodopa
  • Specialized
8.7

A medicine that contains levodopa to treat Parkinson's disease

is the generic chemical name rather than a brand
Bendopa
vslevodopa
  • Specialized
7.8

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

is the generic chemical name rather than a brand

Surface Forms

levodopa singular
levodopas plural

Morphology

levodopa = dopa (semi-transparent) = levo + dopa

Formally 'levo-' (levorotatory) + 'dopa' is a regular chemical prefixation, but both morphemes are technical and unlikely to be known by average learners.

Etymology

The word levodopa comes from levo- meaning 'left' and dopa, a natural body chemical. The name tells you it is the 'left' form of dopa, and that specific form is the one used as a drug to help people with Parkinson's disease.