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LEVODOPA


Without a doubt, the cure levodopa, also called L-dopa, is the highlight of today's treatment.
L-dopa is a simple chemical found naturally in plants and animals. Neurons can use levodopa to make dopamine and replenish its depleting supply in the brain. Dopamine cannot be given directly because it does not cross the blood-brain barrier (the extensive network of blood vessels and cells that filter the blood when it reaches the brain). Patients usually receive levodopa in combination carbidopa, which delays the transformation of Levodopa into dopamine until it reaches the brain, thus preventing or reducing some of the side effects that often accompanied the treatment ofcarbidopa Levodopa also reduces the amount of Levodopa required.

Although levodopa helps at least 75% of Parkinson's cases, not all symptoms respond equally to the drug. Slowness of movement and stiffness respond best, while shaking is only marginally reduced. Balance problems and other symptoms may not be affected at all.

Because that a high-protein diet can interfere with the absorption of levodopa, some doctors recommend that patients taking this drug limit their protein intake to dinner only.

Levodopa is such an effective drug that some people forget that they have Parkinson's, but it does not cure the disease. Although Levadopa can reduce symptoms, it cannot replace lost nerve cells and cannot stop the progression of the disease.
Side effects of the drug Levodopa
The most common side effects are nausea, vomiting, low blood pressure, involuntary movements and restlessness. In rare cases, patients may suffer from confusion. Nausea and vomiting are greatly reduced by taking Carbidopa in combination with Levodopa, which also increases the effectiveness of a lower dose. There is also a Slow Release Formula for this drug, which gives a longer-term effect to patients who take it.
Involuntary movements (Dyskinesias) Such as convulsions, shaking of the head and sharp and sudden movements usually appear in patients who have taken large doses of Levodopa over time. These movements can be light or sharp as well as very fast or very slow. The only effective way to control these movements, caused by the drug, is to reduce the dose of Levodopa or use drugs that block dopamine. These drugs usually cause a reappearance of symptoms of the disease.

When using Levodopa for a long time, other disturbing problems can appear. Patients can notice the onset of more pronounced symptoms even before the first dose of medication has been taken in the morning and they can sense when the effect of the medication begins to wear off (muscle spasms are common in these cases). The symptoms gradually begin to return. The duration of the effect of each drug dose is shortened - the wear-off effect. Another potential problem is sudden, unexpected changes in movements from normal to parkinsonian movements and back, which can occur several times a day. These effects probably indicate that the patient's response to the drug is changing or that the disease is progressing.

According to the US National Institutes of Health (NIH)