Levodopa

L-DOPA

Clinical data
Pregnancy category	AU: B3 US: C (Risk not ruled out)
Routes of administration	oral, intravenous
ATC code	N04BA01 (WHO)
Legal status
Legal status	AU: S4 (Prescription only) UK: POM (Prescription only) US: ℞-only Oral tablets, OTC Mucuna pruriens extract
Pharmacokinetic data
Bioavailability	30%
Metabolism	Aromatic-L-amino-acid decarboxylase
Biological half-life	0.75–1.5 hours
Excretion	renal 70–80%
Identifiers
IUPAC name (S)-2-Amino-3-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)propanoic acid
CAS Number	59-92-7 Y
PubChem CID	6047
IUPHAR/BPS	3639
DrugBank	DB01235 Y
ChemSpider	5824 Y
UNII	46627O600J
KEGG	D00059 Y
ChEBI	CHEBI:15765 Y
ChEMBL	CHEMBL1009 Y
ECHA InfoCard	100.000.405
Chemical and physical data
Formula	C9H11NO4
Molar mass	197.19 g/mol
3D model (Jmol)	Interactive image
SMILES O=C(O)[C@@H](N)Cc1cc(O)c(O)cc1
InChI InChI=1S/C9H11NO4/c10-6(9(13)14)3-5-1-2-7(11)8(12)4-5/h1-2,4,6,11-12H,3,10H2,(H,13,14)/t6-/m0/s1 Y Key:WTDRDQBEARUVNC-LURJTMIESA-N Y

L-DOPA (/ˌɛlˈdoʊpə/ or levodopa /ˌlɛvoʊˈdoʊpə/) (alt., L-3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine) is an amino acid that is made and used as part of the normal biology of humans, some animals and plants. Some animals and humans make it via biosynthesis from the amino acid L-tyrosine. L-DOPA is the precursor to the neurotransmitters dopamine, norepinephrine (noradrenaline), and epinephrine (adrenaline) collectively known as catecholamines. Furthermore, L-DOPA itself mediates neurotrophic factor release by the brain and CNS.L-DOPA can be manufactured and in its pure form is sold as a psychoactive drug with the INN levodopa; trade names include Sinemet, Pharmacopa, Atamet, Stalevo, Madopar, and Prolopa. As a drug, it is used in the clinical treatment of Parkinson's disease and dopamine-responsive dystonia.