carbidopa (Lodosyn)

Introduction

Carbidopa is the only dopa decarboxylase inhibitor available for clinical use in the USA.

Indications

• for use in conjunction with levodopa in carbidopa/L-dopa

Dosage

75-100 mg needed to adequately block decarboxylation of L-dopa

Pharmacokinetics

• does not cross blood brain barrier

Mechanism of action

• diminishes decarboxylation of levodopa in peripheral tissues
• increases 1/2 life & concentration of levodopa in plasma thus increasing amount of levodopa crossing the blood brain barrier
• blocks adverse effects of levodopa outside the brain, including orthostasis

More general terms

• aromatic amino acid
• catecholamine
• pharmacologic agents for treatment of Parkinson's disease
• enzyme inhibitor

More specific terms

• foscarbidopa; carbidopa phosphate

Additional terms

• benserazide (Serazide)

Component of

• carbidopa/levodopa (Sinemet, Parcopa, Atamet, Crexont)
• carbidopa/entacapone/levodopa (Stalevo)

Database

• PubChem: http://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/summary/summary.cgi?cid=34359
• PubChem: http://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/summary/summary.cgi?cid=441291
• PubChem: http://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/summary/summary.cgi?cid=38101
• PubChem: http://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/summary/summary.cgi?cid=2563