Do I need a prescription for Levodopa 500mg tablets?

Levodopa 500mg tablets is classified as a Valid as a prescribable product in the UK. However, always consult a pharmacist or doctor before use. (Source: NHS dm+d)

What are the brand names for Levodopa 500mg tablets?

Levodopa 500mg tablets is the generic name. It is available under brand names including: Levodopa 500mg tablets, Levodopa 500mg tablets, Levodopa 500mg tablets. (Source: NHS dm+d — Actual Medicinal Products)

Levodopa 500mg tablets

Tablet

500mg

Oral

Levodopa is a prodrug of dopamine that is administered to patients with Parkinson's due to its ability to cross the blood-brain barrier[Label].

Active ingredients:

Levodopa

BNF classificationBrowse formulary

Where this medicine sits in the British National Formulary — the UK's standard prescribing reference

BNF 04.09.01

ATC classificationBrowse ATC index

International classification by the WHO, grouping medicines by the organ system they act on

ATC N04BA01

Chemical classBrowse classes

Classification based on the molecule's chemical structure and properties

Check interactions for Levodopa

1 safety notice

Pregnancy caution

Safety information for pregnancy and breastfeeding

Pregnancy

There is no readily available data for the use of levodopa in pregnancy[Label].

Breastfeeding

Levodopa may lower prolactin and interfere with lactation but there is limited human data to demonstrate this effect[Label].

Levodopa is present in human breast milk and so the potential effects of nursing while taking levodopa should be considered before prescribing levodopa to nursing mothers[Label].

Further guidance

UK Medicines in Pregnancy (UKTIS/Bumps)NHS: Medicines in pregnancy

Always consult your doctor or midwife before taking any medicine during pregnancy or while breastfeeding. Source: DrugBank (CC BY-NC 4.0).

Official documents, adverse reaction reporting, and safety monitoring

Report a side effect

Submit a Yellow Card report to the MHRA

Official medicine documents

Yellow Card

Report side effects (MHRA)

Drug safety updates

MHRA alerts for Levodopa

Source: MHRA Products DatabaseOGL 3.0

Updated 3 months ago(16 Jan 2026)

Safety monitoring data

Yellow Card reports

MHRA

The MHRA Yellow Card scheme collects reports of suspected side effects from healthcare professionals and patients. View the Drug Analysis Profile (iDAP) for real-world adverse reaction data.

View Drug Analysis Profile

Suspected adverse reactions reported for Levodopa

Browse all iDAP reports

Interactive Drug Analysis Profiles for all medicines

Report a side effect

Submit a Yellow Card report to the MHRA

Data from the MHRA Yellow Card scheme. A reported reaction does not necessarily mean the medicine caused it. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

EudraVigilance

EMA

The European Medicines Agency (EMA) collects suspected adverse reaction reports from across the EU/EEA through the EudraVigilance system. Search for safety data on this medicine.

View EudraVigilance report

Suspected adverse reactions reported for Levodopa

About EudraVigilance

Learn about EU pharmacovigilance and safety monitoring

EudraVigilance data is published by the European Medicines Agency (EMA). A suspected adverse reaction is not necessarily caused by the medicine.

3 branded products available

3 productsShow details

3 products

Possibly available on the UK marketDiscontinuedAvailability per NHS dm+d

MHRA licensed products

View all licensed products for Levodopa on the MHRA register

Levodopa 500mg tablets

A A H Pharmaceuticals Ltd

Discontinued

Levodopa 500mg tablets

Cambridge Laboratories Ltd

Discontinued

Levodopa 500mg tablets

Alliance Healthcare (Distribution) Ltd

Discontinued

Source: NHS dm+dOGL 3.0

Updated about 1 month ago(1 Mar 2026)

Daily doseShow details

WHO defined daily dose (DDD)

3.5 gram

Not a recommended dose. The DDD is the assumed average maintenance dose per day for a drug used for its main indication in adults. It is a statistical measure used for research and comparison purposes only.

Source: WHO Collaborating Centre for Drug Statistics Methodology, distributed via NHS dm+d BNF mapping files. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

Therapeutically similar medicines

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Levodopa 33mg inhalation powder capsules with device

Capsule

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Same therapeutic group

Levodopa 20mg/ml / Carbidopa 5mg/ml / Entacapone 20mg/ml intestinal gel 47ml cartridges

Gel

20mg

Same therapeutic group

Foslevodopa 2.4g/10ml / Foscarbidopa 120mg/10ml solution for infusion vials

Infusion

2.4g/10ml

Same therapeutic group

Co-beneldopa 25mg/6.25mg/5ml oral suspension

Oral suspension

25mg/6.25mg

Same therapeutic group

Co-careldopa 10mg/40mg/5ml oral suspension

Oral suspension

10mg/40mg

Same therapeutic group

Similarity based on WHO Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical (ATC) classification and NHS BNF section grouping. Source data: NHS dm+d via TRUD (OGL v3.0), WHO ATC/DDD Index.

NHS prescribing volume and spending trends

Show details

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Clinical guidelines and formulary information

British National Formulary

Levodopa

BNF

Drug monograph — bnf.nice.org.uk

Source: British National Formulary, NICE. Joint Formulary Committee. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

NICE clinical guidance(8)

Parkinson's disease (QS164)

QS164

Quality standard

Updated Feb 2018

Parkinson's disease in adults (NG71)

NG71

NICE guideline

Updated Jul 2017

Foslevodopa–foscarbidopa for treating advanced Parkinson's with motor symptoms (TA934)

TA934

Technology appraisal

Updated Nov 2023

MRI-guided focused ultrasound subthalamotomy for treating Parkinson's (HTG734)

HTG734

Guidance

Updated Dec 2024

MRI-guided focused ultrasound thalamotomy for treating moderate to severe tremor in Parkinson's (HTG733)

HTG733

Guidance

Updated Dec 2024

Cerebral palsy in adults (NG119)

NG119

NICE guideline

Updated Jan 2019

Spasticity in under 19s: management (CG145)

CG145

Clinical guideline

Updated Nov 2016

Path Finder for freezing of gait in people with Parkinson's disease (MIB170)

MIB170

Guidance

Updated Jan 2019

Source: National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE). Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

Check stock at pharmacies and supply information

Show details

Pharmacy stock checkers

Search for this medicine at major UK pharmacy chains. These links open the retailer's own website — results depend on their current online catalogue.

Boots

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Lloyds

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P2U

Pharmacy2U

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DeliveryNHS

Supply & product information

Official product databases and supply status monitoring

Shortages info

NHS Specialist Pharmacy Service (SPS)

emc product search

Discontinuations & alternatives for Levodopa

Pharmacy links redirect to the retailer's own search and do not represent real-time stock levels. emc (electronic medicines compendium) is operated by Datapharm Ltd. Shortage information sourced from NHS Specialist Pharmacy Service (SPS), sps.nhs.uk.

Codes for healthcare professionals and prescribing systems

Show details

These codes are used by healthcare IT systems and prescribers to identify this medicine.

NHS UK identifiers

SNOMED CT

42037311000001107

dm+d ID

42037311000001107

VTM (Virtual Therapeutic Moiety)

776515002

VMP (Virtual Medicinal Product)

42037311000001107

BNF code

04090100

International identifiers

ATC code — Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical (WHO)

N04BA01

Browse tools

dm+d Browser

NHSBSA medicines dictionary lookup

SNOMED CT and dm+d codes from NHS TRUD (Technology Reference data Update Distribution), licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. BNF codes from NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA). ATC codes from the WHO Collaborating Centre for Drug Statistics Methodology (whocc.no).

Active and completed clinical studies from ClinicalTrials.gov

Show details

Searching UK clinical trials...

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine (NLM), National Institutes of Health (NIH). Data accessed via ClinicalTrials.gov API v2. Trial information is provided for research purposes and does not constitute medical advice.

Pharmacology and chemical data from DrugBank

go.drugbank.com

Key facts

Drug status

Approved

Major interactions

202 found

Half-life

2.3 hours

Mechanism

Levodopa by various routes crosses the blood brain barrier, is decarboxylated to form dopamine[Label,F4579].

Food interactions

2 warnings

Human targets

5 targets

Data: DrugBank · CC BY-NC 4.0

Pharmacokinetics at a glance

Absorption

0.5 hours

Orally inhaled levodopa reaches a peak concentration in 0.5 hours with a bioavailability than is 70% that of the immediate release levodopa tablets…

Half-life

2.3 hours

2.3 hours for orally inhaled levodopa[FDA Label]. Oral levodopa has a half life of 50 minutes but when combined with a peripheral dopa decarboxylase inhibitor, the half life is increased to 1.5…

Protein binding

Levodopa binding to plasma proteins is negligible.
[A177817]

Volume of distribution

168L

168L for orally inhaled levodopa[Label].

Metabolism

13-47%

Levodopa is either converted to dopamine by aromatic-L-amino-acid decarboxylase or O-methylated to 3-O-methyldopa by catechol-O-methyltransferase[Label,A177745,A177733].…

Elimination

48 hours

After 48 hours, 0.17% of an orally administered dose is recovered in stool, 0.28% is exhaled, and 78.4% is recovered in urine[A177805]

Clearance

14.2mL/min/kg

Intravenously administered levodopa is cleared at a rate of 14.2mL/min/kg…

Pharmacokinetic data: DrugBank · CC BY-NC 4.0

Status:

Approved

Investigational

Small molecule

About this compound

Levodopa is a prodrug of dopamine that is administered to patients with Parkinson's due to its ability to cross the blood-brain barrier[Label]. Levodopa can be metabolised to dopamine on either side of the blood-brain barrier and so it is generally administered with a dopa decarboxylase inhibitor like carbidopa to prevent metabolism until after it has crossed the blood-brain barrier[Label,A177781]. Once past the blood-brain barrier, levodopa is metabolized to dopamine and supplements the low endogenous levels of dopamine to treat symptoms of Parkinson's[Label]. The first developed drug product that was approved by the FDA was a levodopa and carbidopa combined product called Sinemet that was approved on May 2, 1975[A177781][L6133].

Properties:

solid

Avg. mass: 197.19 Da

View FDA drug label

DrugBank indication

Levodopa on its own is formulated as an oral inhalation powder indicated for intermittent treatment of off episodes in Parkinson's patients who are already being treated with carbidopa and levodopa[FDA Label]. Levodopa is most commonly formulated as an oral tablet with a peripheral dopa decarboxylase inhibitor indicated for treatment of Parkinson's disease, post-encephalitic parkinsonism, and symptomatic parkinsonism following carbon monoxide intoxication or manganese intoxicationF4579.

Also known as(54)

(−)-3-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)-L-alanine

(−)-dopa

3-Hydroxy-L-tyrosine

3,4-Dihydroxy-L-phenylalanine

Dihydroxy-L-phenylalanine

L-3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine

L-beta-(3,4-Dihydroxyphenyl)alanine

L-DOPA

Dosage forms(27)

Tablet (Oral)

Tablet, extended release (Oral)

Tablet, film coated (Oral)

Tablet (Oral) — 25 mg

Gel (Enteral)

Gel (Intraduodenal)

Suspension (Enteral)

(Respiratory (inhalation)) — 33 mg

Molecular properties(19)

Drug interactions(1024)

Known interactions with other medications. Always consult a healthcare professional.

Duloxetine

Major

DB00476

The risk or severity of orthostatic hypotension and syncope can be increased when Levodopa is combined with Duloxetine.

Check this interaction

Aldesleukin

Major

DB00041

The risk or severity of hypotension and orthostatic hypotension can be increased when Aldesleukin is combined with Levodopa.

Check this interaction

Streptokinase

Major

DB00086

The risk or severity of hypotension and orthostatic hypotension can be increased when Streptokinase is combined with Levodopa.

Check this interaction

Valsartan

Major

DB00177

The risk or severity of hypotension and orthostatic hypotension can be increased when Valsartan is combined with Levodopa.

Check this interaction

Ramipril

Major

DB00178

The risk or severity of hypotension and orthostatic hypotension can be increased when Ramipril is combined with Levodopa.

Check this interaction

Esmolol

Major

DB00187

The risk or severity of hypotension and orthostatic hypotension can be increased when Esmolol is combined with Levodopa.

Check this interaction

Betaxolol

Major

DB00195

The risk or severity of hypotension and orthostatic hypotension can be increased when Betaxolol is combined with Levodopa.

Check this interaction

Reserpine

Major

DB00206

The risk or severity of hypotension and orthostatic hypotension can be increased when Reserpine is combined with Levodopa.

Check this interaction

Torasemide

Major

DB00214

The risk or severity of hypotension and orthostatic hypotension can be increased when Torasemide is combined with Levodopa.

Check this interaction

Methyclothiazide

Major

DB00232

The risk or severity of hypotension and orthostatic hypotension can be increased when Methyclothiazide is combined with Levodopa.

Check this interaction

Metoprolol

Major

DB00264

The risk or severity of hypotension and orthostatic hypotension can be increased when Metoprolol is combined with Levodopa.

Check this interaction

Ropinirole

Major

DB00268

The risk or severity of hypotension and orthostatic hypotension can be increased when Ropinirole is combined with Levodopa.

Check this interaction

Isradipine

Major

DB00270

The risk or severity of hypotension and orthostatic hypotension can be increased when Isradipine is combined with Levodopa.

Check this interaction

Olmesartan

Major

DB00275

The risk or severity of hypotension and orthostatic hypotension can be increased when Olmesartan is combined with Levodopa.

Check this interaction

Morphine

Major

DB00295

The risk or severity of hypotension and orthostatic hypotension can be increased when Morphine is combined with Levodopa.

Check this interaction

Ropivacaine

Major

DB00296

The risk or severity of hypotension and orthostatic hypotension can be increased when Ropivacaine is combined with Levodopa.

Check this interaction

Bupivacaine

Major

DB00297

The risk or severity of hypotension and orthostatic hypotension can be increased when Bupivacaine is combined with Levodopa.

Check this interaction

Chlorthalidone

Major

DB00310

The risk or severity of hypotension and orthostatic hypotension can be increased when Chlorthalidone is combined with Levodopa.

Check this interaction

Tolcapone

Major

DB00323

The risk or severity of hypotension and orthostatic hypotension can be increased when Tolcapone is combined with Levodopa.

Check this interaction

Nitroprusside

Major

DB00325

The risk or severity of hypotension and orthostatic hypotension can be increased when Nitroprusside is combined with Levodopa.

Check this interaction

Atenolol

Major

DB00335

The risk or severity of hypotension and orthostatic hypotension can be increased when Atenolol is combined with Levodopa.

Check this interaction

Diltiazem

Major

DB00343

The risk or severity of hypotension and orthostatic hypotension can be increased when Diltiazem is combined with Levodopa.

Check this interaction

Minoxidil

Major

DB00350

The risk or severity of hypotension and orthostatic hypotension can be increased when Minoxidil is combined with Levodopa.

Check this interaction

Timolol

Major

DB00373

The risk or severity of hypotension and orthostatic hypotension can be increased when Timolol is combined with Levodopa.

Check this interaction

Amlodipine

Major

DB00381

The risk or severity of hypotension and orthostatic hypotension can be increased when Amlodipine is combined with Levodopa.

Check this interaction

Triamterene

Major

DB00384

The risk or severity of hypotension and orthostatic hypotension can be increased when Triamterene is combined with Levodopa.

Check this interaction

Nimodipine

Major

DB00393

The risk or severity of hypotension and orthostatic hypotension can be increased when Nimodipine is combined with Levodopa.

Check this interaction

Nisoldipine

Major

DB00401

The risk or severity of hypotension and orthostatic hypotension can be increased when Nisoldipine is combined with Levodopa.

Check this interaction

Pramipexole

Major

DB00413

The risk or severity of hypotension and orthostatic hypotension can be increased when Pramipexole is combined with Levodopa.

Check this interaction

Spironolactone

Major

DB00421

The risk or severity of hypotension and orthostatic hypotension can be increased when Spironolactone is combined with Levodopa.

Check this interaction

Nitric Oxide

Major

DB00435

The risk or severity of hypotension and orthostatic hypotension can be increased when Nitric Oxide is combined with Levodopa.

Check this interaction

Bendroflumethiazide

Major

DB00436

The risk or severity of hypotension and orthostatic hypotension can be increased when Bendroflumethiazide is combined with Levodopa.

Check this interaction

Prazosin

Major

DB00457

The risk or severity of hypotension and orthostatic hypotension can be increased when Prazosin is combined with Levodopa.

Check this interaction

Nabilone

Major

DB00486

The risk or severity of hypotension and orthostatic hypotension can be increased when Nabilone is combined with Levodopa.

Check this interaction

Sotalol

Major

DB00489

The risk or severity of hypotension and orthostatic hypotension can be increased when Sotalol is combined with Levodopa.

Check this interaction

Fosinopril

Major

DB00492

The risk or severity of hypotension and orthostatic hypotension can be increased when Fosinopril is combined with Levodopa.

Check this interaction

Trandolapril

Major

DB00519

The risk or severity of hypotension and orthostatic hypotension can be increased when Trandolapril is combined with Levodopa.

Check this interaction

Metolazone

Major

DB00524

The risk or severity of hypotension and orthostatic hypotension can be increased when Metolazone is combined with Levodopa.

Check this interaction

Lercanidipine

Major

DB00528

The risk or severity of hypotension and orthostatic hypotension can be increased when Lercanidipine is combined with Levodopa.

Check this interaction

Benazepril

Major

DB00542

The risk or severity of hypotension and orthostatic hypotension can be increased when Benazepril is combined with Levodopa.

Check this interaction

Propranolol

Major

DB00571

The risk or severity of hypotension and orthostatic hypotension can be increased when Propranolol is combined with Levodopa.

Check this interaction

Enalapril

Major

DB00584

The risk or severity of hypotension and orthostatic hypotension can be increased when Enalapril is combined with Levodopa.

Check this interaction

Doxazosin

Major

DB00590

The risk or severity of hypotension and orthostatic hypotension can be increased when Doxazosin is combined with Levodopa.

Check this interaction

Amiloride

Major

DB00594

The risk or severity of hypotension and orthostatic hypotension can be increased when Amiloride is combined with Levodopa.

Check this interaction

Labetalol

Major

DB00598

The risk or severity of hypotension and orthostatic hypotension can be increased when Labetalol is combined with Levodopa.

Check this interaction

Thiopental

Major

DB00599

The risk or severity of hypotension and orthostatic hypotension can be increased when Thiopental is combined with Levodopa.

Check this interaction

Bisoprolol

Major

DB00612

The risk or severity of hypotension and orthostatic hypotension can be increased when Bisoprolol is combined with Levodopa.

Check this interaction

Clofarabine

Major

DB00631

The risk or severity of hypotension and orthostatic hypotension can be increased when Clofarabine is combined with Levodopa.

Check this interaction

Dexmedetomidine

Major

DB00633

The risk or severity of hypotension and orthostatic hypotension can be increased when Dexmedetomidine is combined with Levodopa.

Check this interaction

Mecamylamine

Major

DB00657

The risk or severity of hypotension and orthostatic hypotension can be increased when Mecamylamine is combined with Levodopa.

Check this interaction

Showing 50 of 1024 interactions

Food & lifestyle interactions

Advice

Avoid multivalent ions. Iron salts may reduce levodopa absorption.

Advice

Take with or without food. A diet high in protein may delay absorption and AUC of levodopa.

Toxicity & overdose

There is no readily available data for the use of levodopa in pregnancy[Label]. Rabbits treated with levodopa and carbidopa produced smaller litters and their offspring developed visceral and skeletal deformities[Label]. Levodopa may lower prolactin and interfere with lactation but there is limited human data to demonstrate this effect[Label].

Levodopa is present in human breast milk and so the potential effects of nursing while taking levodopa should be considered before prescribing levodopa to nursing mothers[Label]. There is currently a lack of data on the safety and effectiveness of using levodopa in pediatric patients[Label]. Patients over 65 years of age are more likely to experience adverse effects associated with taking levodopa, however this generally is not sufficient to exclude this patient group from treatment[Label].

How it works

Mechanism of action

Levodopa by various routes crosses the blood brain barrier, is decarboxylated to form dopamine[Label,F4579]. This supplemental dopamine performs the role that endogenous dopamine cannot due to a decrease of natural concentrations and stimulates dopaminergic receptors[Label,F4579].

Pharmacodynamics

Levodopa is able to cross the blood-brain barrier while dopamine is not[FDA Label,F4579]. The addition of a peripheral dopa decarboxylase inhibitor prevents the conversion of levodopa to dopamine in the periphery so that more levodopa can reach the blood-brain barrier[Label,F4579]. Once past the blood-brain barrier, levodopa is converted to dopamine by aromatic-L-amino-acid decarboxylase[Label,F4579].

Pharmacokinetics

How the body processes this drug — absorption, distribution, metabolism, and elimination

Absorption

Orally inhaled levodopa reaches a peak concentration in 0.5 hours with a bioavailability than is 70% that of the immediate release levodopa tablets with a peripheral dopa decarboxylase inhibitor like carbidopa or benserazide[Label,A177781].

Half-life

Protein binding

Levodopa binding to plasma proteins is negligible.
[A177817]

Volume of distribution

168L for orally inhaled levodopa[Label].

Metabolism

Levodopa is either converted to dopamine by aromatic-L-amino-acid decarboxylase or O-methylated to 3-O-methyldopa by catechol-O-methyltransferase[Label,A177745,A177733]. 3-O-methyldopa cannot be metabolized to dopamine.
[A177733]
Once levodopa is converted to dopamine, it is converted to sulfated or glucuronidated metabolites, epinephrine E, or homovanillic acid through various metabolic processes.
[A177745]
The primary metabolites are 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (13-47%) and homovanillic acid (23-39%).
[A177733][A177805]

Route of elimination

After 48 hours, 0.17% of an orally administered dose is recovered in stool, 0.28% is exhaled, and 78.4% is recovered in urine[A177805]

Clearance

Intravenously administered levodopa is cleared at a rate of 14.2mL/min/kg in elderly patients and 23.4mL/min/kg in younger patients.
[A177802]
When given carbidopa, the clearance of levodopa was 5.8mL/min/kg in elderyly patients and 9.3mL/min/kg in younger patients.
[A177802]

Drug targets(5)

Proteins and enzymes this drug interacts with in the body

D(1A) dopamine receptor

BE0000020

DRD1

agonist

Specific functionarrestin family protein binding

Cellular location

Cell membrane

General function & pharmacology

Dopamine receptor whose activity is mediated by G proteins which activate adenylyl cyclase

D(1B) dopamine receptor

BE0000145

DRD5

agonist

Specific functiondopamine binding

Cellular location

Cell membrane

General function & pharmacology

Dopamine receptor whose activity is mediated by G proteins which activate adenylyl cyclase

D(2) dopamine receptor

BE0000756

DRD2

agonist

Specific functiondopamine binding

Cellular location

Cell membrane

General function & pharmacology

Dopamine receptor whose activity is mediated by G proteins which inhibit adenylyl cyclase .
PMID:21645528
Positively regulates postnatal regression of retinal hyaloid vessels via suppression of VEGFR2/KDR activity, downstream of OPN5 (By similarity)

D(3) dopamine receptor

BE0000581

DRD3

agonist

Specific functiondopamine neurotransmitter receptor activity, coupled via Gi/Go

Cellular location

Cell membrane

General function & pharmacology

Dopamine receptor whose activity is mediated by G proteins which inhibit adenylyl cyclase. Promotes cell proliferation

D(4) dopamine receptor

BE0000389

DRD4

agonist

Specific functiondopamine binding

Cellular location

Cell membrane

General function & pharmacology

Dopamine receptor responsible for neuronal signaling in the mesolimbic system of the brain, an area of the brain that regulates emotion and complex behavior. Activated by dopamine, but also by epinephrine and norepinephrine, and by numerous synthetic agonists and drugs .
PMID:16423344 PMID:27659709 PMID:29051383 PMID:9003072

Agonist binding triggers signaling via G proteins that inhibit adenylyl cyclase .
PMID:16423344 PMID:27659709 PMID:29051383 PMID:7512953 PMID:7643093

Modulates the circadian rhythm of contrast sensitivity by regulating the rhythmic expression of NPAS2 in the retinal ganglion cells (By similarity)

Metabolizing enzymes(1)

Enzymes involved in drug metabolism — important for understanding drug interactions

Enzyme activity key

substrate

inhibitor

inducer

DDCAromatic-L-amino-acid decarboxylase

substrate

Transporters(4)

Proteins that transport this drug across cell membranes

Solute carrier family 15 member 1

BE0001018

SLC15A1

inhibitor

Specific functiondipeptide transmembrane transporter activity

Cellular location

Apical cell membrane

General function & pharmacology

Electrogenic proton-coupled amino-acid transporter that transports oligopeptides of 2 to 4 amino acids with a preference for dipeptides. Transports neutral and monovalently charged peptides with a proton to peptide stoichiometry of 1:1 or 2:1 (By similarity) .
PMID:15521010 PMID:18367661 PMID:19685173 PMID:26320580 PMID:7896779 PMID:8914574 PMID:9835627

Primarily responsible for the absorption of dietary di- and tripeptides from the small intestinal lumen (By similarity). Mediates transepithelial transport of muramyl and N-formylated bacterial dipeptides contributing to recognition of pathogenic bacteria by the mucosal immune system PMID:15521010 PMID:9835627

Monocarboxylate transporter 10

BE0003654

SLC16A10

inhibitor

Specific functionamino acid transmembrane transporter activity

Cellular location

Cell membrane

General function & pharmacology

Sodium- and proton-independent thyroid hormones and aromatic acids transporter .
PMID:11827462 PMID:18337592 PMID:28754537

Mediates both uptake and efflux of 3,5,3'-triiodothyronine (T3) and 3,5,3',5'-tetraiodothyronine (T4) with high affinity, suggesting a role in the homeostasis of thyroid hormone levels .
PMID:18337592
Responsible for low affinity bidirectional transport of the aromatic amino acids, such as phenylalanine, tyrosine, tryptophan and L-3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (L-dopa) .
PMID:11827462 PMID:28754537
Plays an important role in homeostasis of aromatic amino acids (By similarity)

Large neutral amino acids transporter small subunit 1

BE0000222

SLC7A5

Specific functionamino acid transmembrane transporter activity

Cellular location

Apical cell membrane

General function & pharmacology

The heterodimer with SLC3A2 functions as a sodium-independent, high-affinity transporter that mediates uptake of large neutral amino acids such as phenylalanine, tyrosine, leucine, histidine, methionine, tryptophan, valine, isoleucine and alanine .
PMID:10049700 PMID:10574970 PMID:11557028 PMID:11564694 PMID:12117417 PMID:12225859 PMID:15769744 PMID:18262359 PMID:25998567 PMID:30867591 PMID:9751058

The heterodimer with SLC3A2 mediates the uptake of L-DOPA (By similarity). Functions as an amino acid exchanger .
PMID:11557028 PMID:12117417 PMID:12225859 PMID:30867591

May play a role in the transport of L-DOPA across the blood-brain barrier (By similarity). May act as the major transporter of tyrosine in fibroblasts (Probable).

May mediate blood-to-retina L-leucine transport across the inner blood-retinal barrier (By similarity). Can mediate the transport of thyroid hormones diiodothyronine (T2), triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4) across the cell membrane .
PMID:11564694
When associated with LAPTM4B, the heterodimer formed by SLC3A2 and SLC7A5 is recruited to lysosomes to promote leucine uptake into these organelles, and thereby mediates mTORC1 activation .
PMID:25998567
Involved in the uptake of toxic methylmercury (MeHg) when administered as the L-cysteine or D,L-homocysteine complexes .
PMID:12117417
Involved in the cellular activity of small molecular weight nitrosothiols, via the stereoselective transport of L-nitrosocysteine (L-CNSO) across the membrane PMID:15769744

Large neutral amino acids transporter small subunit 2

BE0000789

SLC7A8

Specific functionamino acid transmembrane transporter activity

Cellular location

Cell membrane

General function & pharmacology

Associates with SLC3A2 to form a functional heterodimeric complex that translocates small and large neutral amino acids with broad specificity and a stoichiometry of 1:1. Functions as amino acid antiporter mediating the influx of extracellular essential amino acids mainly in exchange with the efflux of highly concentrated intracellular amino acids .
PMID:10391915 PMID:11311135 PMID:11847106 PMID:12716892 PMID:15081149 PMID:15918515 PMID:29355479 PMID:33298890 PMID:34848541

Has relatively symmetrical selectivities but strongly asymmetrical substrate affinities at both the intracellular and extracellular sides of the transporter .
PMID:11847106
This asymmetry allows SLC7A8 to regulate intracellular amino acid pools (mM concentrations) by exchange with external amino acids (uM concentration range), equilibrating the relative concentrations of different amino acids across the plasma membrane instead of mediating their net uptake .
PMID:10391915 PMID:11847106
May play an essential role in the reabsorption of neutral amino acids from the epithelial cells to the bloodstream in the kidney .
PMID:12716892
Involved in the uptake of methylmercury (MeHg) when administered as the L-cysteine or D,L-homocysteine complexes, and hence plays a role in metal ion homeostasis and toxicity .
PMID:12117417
Involved in the cellular activity of small molecular weight nitrosothiols, via the stereoselective transport of L-nitrosocysteine (L-CNSO) across the transmembrane .
PMID:15769744
Imports the thyroid hormone diiodothyronine (T2) and to a smaller extent triiodothyronine (T3) but not rT 3 or thyroxine (T4) (By similarity). Mediates the uptake of L-DOPA (By similarity).

May participate in auditory function (By similarity)

Carriers(1)

Proteins that carry this drug through the body

Albumin

BE0000530

ALB

binder

Specific functionantioxidant activity

Cellular location

Secreted

General function & pharmacology

Binds water, Ca(2+), Na(+), K(+), fatty acids, hormones, bilirubin and drugs (Probable). Its main function is the regulation of the colloidal osmotic pressure of blood (Probable). Major zinc transporter in plasma, typically binds about 80% of all plasma zinc .
PMID:19021548
Major calcium and magnesium transporter in plasma, binds approximately 45% of circulating calcium and magnesium in plasma (By similarity).

Potentially has more than two calcium-binding sites and might additionally bind calcium in a non-specific manner (By similarity). The shared binding site between zinc and calcium at residue Asp-273 suggests a crosstalk between zinc and calcium transport in the blood (By similarity). The rank order of affinity is zinc > calcium > magnesium (By similarity).

Binds to the bacterial siderophore enterobactin and inhibits enterobactin-mediated iron uptake of E.coli from ferric transferrin, and may thereby limit the utilization of iron and growth of enteric bacteria such as E.coli .
PMID:6234017
Does not prevent iron uptake by the bacterial siderophore aerobactin PMID:6234017

Biological pathways(11)

Catecholamine Biosynthesis

metabolic

Involved compounds

Dopamine,Epinephrine,Iron,Tyrosine,Levodopa,Norepinephrine,Pyridoxal phosphate,Pyrroloquinoline Quinone,Ademetionine,Ascorbic acid

Aromatic L-Aminoacid Decarboxylase Deficiency

disease

Involved compounds

Dopamine,Epinephrine,Iron,Tyrosine,Levodopa,Norepinephrine,Pyridoxal phosphate,Pyrroloquinoline Quinone,Ademetionine,Ascorbic acid

Tyrosine Hydroxylase Deficiency

disease

Involved compounds

Dopamine,Epinephrine,Iron,Tyrosine,Levodopa,Norepinephrine,Pyridoxal phosphate,Pyrroloquinoline Quinone,Ademetionine,Ascorbic acid

Scientific references(6)

Djamshidian A., Poewe W.

Apomorphine and levodopa in Parkinson's disease: Two revolutionary drugs from the 1950's.

Parkinsonism Relat Disord

2016 Dec33 Suppl 1:S9-S12. doi: 10.1016/j.parkreldis.2016.12.004. Epub 2016 Dec 22

PMID: 28012951 DOI: 10.1016/j.parkreldis.2016.12.004

Meiser J., Weindl D., Hiller K.

Complexity of dopamine metabolism.

Cell Communications Signal

2013 May 1711(1):34. doi: 10.1186/1478-811X-11-34

PMID: 23683503 DOI: 10.1186/1478-811X-11-34

Elroby S.A., Makki M.S., Sobahi T.R., Hilal R.H.

Toward the understanding of the metabolism of levodopa I.

DFT investigation of the equilibrium geometries, acid-base properties and levodopa-water complexes

Int J Mol Sci. 201213(4):4321-39. doi: 10.3390/ijms13044321. Epub 2012 Apr 2

PMID: 22605980 DOI: 10.3390/ijms13044321

Robertson D.R., Wood N.D., Everest H., Monks K., Waller D.G., Renwick A.G., George C.F.

The effect of age on the pharmacokinetics of levodopa administered alone and in the presence of carbidopa..

British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology

198928(1):61-69. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2125.1989.tb03506.x

PMID: 2775615 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2125.1989.tb03506.x

Abrams W.B., Coutinho C.B., Leon A.S., Spiegel H.E.

Absorption and Metabolism of Levodopa.

JAMA: The Journal of the American Medical Association

1971218(13):1912. doi: 10.1001/jama.1971.03190260028007

PMID: 5171067 DOI: 10.1001/jama.1971.03190260028007

Fanali G., Rampoldi V., di Masi A., Bolli A., Lopiano L., Ascenzi P., Fasano M.

Binding of anti-Parkinson's disease drugs to human serum albumin is allosterically modulated.

IUBMB Life

2010 May62(5):371-6. doi: 10.1002/iub.317

PMID: 20225277 DOI: 10.1002/iub.317

ATC classification(3 codes)

ATC N04BA03

ATC N04BA01

ATC N04BA02

Affected organisms(1)

Humans and other mammals

International brands(5)

Experimental properties(4)

External resources(2)

RxList Drugs.com

Protein Data Bank entries(30)

Commercial products(527)

Chemical identifiers

CAS, UNII, InChI Key and database cross-references

Show

Linked compound data from DrugBank Open Data (CC BY-NC 4.0)

Levodopa

DB01235

CAS number

59-92-7

UNII (FDA)

46627O600J

InChI Key (molecular fingerprint)

WTDRDQBEARUVNC-LURJTMIESA-N

Additional database identifiers

Drugs Product Database (DPD)

4068

ChEBI

57504

PubChem Compound

6047

PubChem Substance

46508120

KEGG Compound

C00355

KEGG Drug

D00059

ChemSpider

5824

BindingDB

60928

PharmGKB

PA450213

PDB

DAH

Therapeutic Targets Database

DAP000209

IUPHAR

3639

Guide to Pharmacology

3639

Wikipedia

Levodopa

ChEMBL

CHEMBL1009

ZINC

ZINC000000895199

RxCUI

6375

HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee (HGNC)

HGNC:3020

GenAtlas

DRD1

GeneCards

DRD1

GenBank Gene Database

X55760

GenBank Protein Database

30397

IUPHAR

214

Guide to Pharmacology

214

UniProtKB

P21728

UniProt Accession

DRD1_HUMAN

HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee (HGNC)

HGNC:3026

GenAtlas

DRD5

GeneCards

DRD5

GenBank Gene Database

X58454

GenBank Protein Database

32049

IUPHAR

218

Guide to Pharmacology

218

UniProtKB

P21918

UniProt Accession

DRD5_HUMAN

HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee (HGNC)

HGNC:3023

GenAtlas

DRD2

GeneCards

DRD2

GenBank Gene Database

M30625

GenBank Protein Database

181432

IUPHAR

215

Guide to Pharmacology

215

UniProtKB

P14416

UniProt Accession

DRD2_HUMAN

HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee (HGNC)

HGNC:3024

GenAtlas

DRD3

GeneCards

DRD3

GenBank Gene Database

U32499

GenBank Protein Database

927342

IUPHAR

216

Guide to Pharmacology

216

UniProtKB

P35462

UniProt Accession

DRD3_HUMAN

HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee (HGNC)

HGNC:3025

GenAtlas

DRD4

GeneCards

DRD4

GenBank Gene Database

L12398

GenBank Protein Database

291946

IUPHAR

217

Guide to Pharmacology

217

UniProtKB

P21917

UniProt Accession

DRD4_HUMAN

HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee (HGNC)

HGNC:2719

GenAtlas

DDC

GeneCards

DDC

GenBank Gene Database

M76180

GenBank Protein Database

181521

UniProtKB

P20711

UniProt Accession

DDC_HUMAN

HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee (HGNC)

HGNC:399

GenAtlas

ALB

GeneCards

ALB

GenBank Gene Database

V00494

GenBank Protein Database

28590

UniProtKB

P02768

UniProt Accession

ALBU_HUMAN

HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee (HGNC)

HGNC:10920

GenAtlas

SLC15A1

GeneCards

SLC15A1

GenBank Gene Database

U13173

GenBank Protein Database

773588

Guide to Pharmacology

984

UniProtKB

P46059

UniProt Accession

S15A1_HUMAN

HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee (HGNC)

HGNC:17027

GeneCards

SLC16A10

GenBank Gene Database

AB057445

GenBank Protein Database

18640047

UniProtKB

Q8TF71

UniProt Accession

MOT10_HUMAN

HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee (HGNC)

HGNC:11063

GenAtlas

SLC7A5

GeneCards

SLC7A5

GenBank Gene Database

AF077866

GenBank Protein Database

3639058

UniProtKB

Q01650

UniProt Accession

LAT1_HUMAN

HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee (HGNC)

HGNC:11066

GenAtlas

SLC7A8

GeneCards

SLC7A8

GenBank Gene Database

AF171669

GenBank Protein Database

6642960

UniProtKB

Q9UHI5

UniProt Accession

LAT2_HUMAN

International reference pricing

2 formulations

Reference pricing from DrugBank. Prices are indicative and may not reflect current UK costs.

From $7.31/g

To $15.19/g

Levodopa powder

$7.31/g

L-dopa powder

$15.19/g

Source: DrugBank. Used under CC BY-NC 4.0 academic licence for non-commercial purposes.

Patent information

41 active patents, 16 expired

11986449

United States

Approved 21 May 2024 · Expires 21 Dec 2041

15y 8m

12109185

United States

Approved 8 Oct 2024 · Expires 21 Dec 2041

15y 8m

12201596

United States

Approved 21 Dec 2021 · Expires 21 Dec 2041

15y 8m

12194150

United States

Approved 21 Dec 2021 · Expires 21 Dec 2041

15y 8m

12303482

United States

Approved 21 Dec 2021 · Expires 21 Dec 2041

15y 8m

Source: DrugBank · CC BY-NC 4.0. Patent data sourced from national patent offices. Expiry dates may not reflect extensions, regulatory exclusivity periods, or legal challenges.

DrugBank citations

If you use DrugBank data in your research, please cite the following publications:

Knox C., Wilson M., Klinger C.M., et al

DrugBank 6.

0: the DrugBank Knowledgebase for 2024

Nucleic Acids Res. 2024 Jan 552(D1):D1265-D1275

PMID: 37953279

Wishart D.S., Feunang Y.D., Guo A.C., et al

DrugBank 5.

0: a major update to the DrugBank database for 2018

Nucleic Acids Res. 2017 Nov 846(D1):D1074-D1082

PMID: 29126136

Show earlier publications

Law V., Knox C., Djoumbou Y., et al

DrugBank 4.

0: shedding new light on drug metabolism

Nucleic Acids Res. 2014 Jan 142(1):D1091-7

PMID: 24203711

Knox C., Law V., Jewison T., et al

DrugBank 3.

0: a comprehensive resource for 'omics' research on drugs

Nucleic Acids Res. 2011 Jan39(Database issue):D1035-41

PMID: 21059682

Wishart D.S., Knox C., Guo A.C., et al

DrugBank: a knowledgebase for drugs, drug actions and drug targets.

Nucleic Acids Research

2008 Jan36(Database issue):D901-6

PMID: 18048412

Wishart D.S., Knox C., Guo A.C., et al

DrugBank: a comprehensive resource for in silico drug discovery and exploration.

Nucleic Acids Research

2006 Jan 134(Database issue):D668-72

PMID: 16381955

Source: go.drugbank.comCC BY-NC 4.0

Updated 26 days ago(8 Mar 2026)

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Levodopa 500mg tablets

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Levodopa 500mg tablets

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