Levodopa: uses, dosing, side effects & brands
Levodopa is an aromatic amino acid sold in the U.S. under 2 brand and generic names, for parkinson disease. Below: what the FDA label says, every product that contains it, what the pills look like, and its recall record.
Key facts
- Drug class
- Aromatic Amino Acid
- Treats
- Parkinson Disease
- Available as
- Capsule
- Sold as
- 2 products — Bendopa and Inbrija
- Prescription?
- Prescription only
- Generic available?
- Not in our catalog
- Half-life
- about 50 minutes (extended to about 1.5 hours when taken with carbidopa)
How levodopa is dosed
From the FDA label for Inbrija (application NDA209184). Other levodopa products — different forms, different strengths — are dosed differently. Follow the label for the one you were prescribed.
INBRIJA capsules are for oral inhalation only and should be used only with the INBRIJA inhaler. For oral inhalation only. DO NOT swallow INBRIJA capsules. Only use INBRIJA capsules with the INBRIJA inhaler ( 2.1 ) Inhale the contents of two INBRIJA capsules (84 mg) as needed for OFF symptoms, up to 5 times daily ( 2.2 ) The maximum dose per OFF period is 84 mg, and the maximum recommended daily dosage of INBRIJA is 420 mg ( 2.2 ) 2.1 Important Administration Instructions INBRIJA capsules are for oral inhalation only and should be used only with the INBRIJA inhaler. INBRIJA capsules must not be swallowed as the intended effect will not be obtained. INBRIJA capsules should be stored in their blister package and only removed immediately before use [see How Supplied/Storage and Handling (16.2) ] . 2.2 Recommended Dosage INBRIJA should be taken when symptoms of an OFF period start to return. The recommended dosage of INBRIJA is oral inhalation of the contents of two 42 mg capsules (84 mg) as needed, up to 5 times a day. The maximum dose per OFF period is 84 mg, and the maximum daily dosage is 420 mg. INBRIJA has been shown to be effective only in combination with carbidopa/levodopa [see Indications and Usage (1) ].
Levodopa side effects
The following serious adverse reactions are discussed below and elsewhere in the labeling: Falling Asleep During Activities of Daily Living and Somnolence [see Warnings and Precautions (5.1) ] Withdrawal-Emergent Hyperpyrexia and Confusion [see Warnings and Precautions (5.2) ] Hallucinations/Psychosis [see Warnings and Precautions (5.3) ] Impulse Control/Compulsive Behaviors [see Warnings and Precautions (5.4) ] Dyskinesia [see Warnings and Precautions (5.5) ] Bronchospasm in Patients with Lung Disease [see Warnings and Precautions (5.6) ] Glaucoma [see Warnings and Precautions (5.7) ] The most common adverse reactions (incidence ≥ 5% and higher than placebo) were cough, nausea, upper respiratory tract infection, and sputum discolored ( 6.1 ) To report SUSPECTED ADVERSE REACTIONS, contact Merz Pharmaceuticals, LLC at 1-800-367-5109 or FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch. 6.1 Clinical Trials Experience Because clinical trials are conducted under widely varying conditions, adverse reaction rates observed in the clinical trials of a drug cannot be directly compared to rates in the clinical trials of another drug and may not reflect the rates observed in clinical practice. Adverse Reactions in Study 1 Table 1 lists the adverse reactions that occurred in at least 2% of patients with Parkinson's disease who were treated with INBRIJA 84 mg and higher than placebo for OFF…
Who shouldn’t take levodopa
INBRIJA is contraindicated in patients currently taking a nonselective monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitor (e.g., phenelzine and tranylcypromine) or who have recently (within 2 weeks) taken a nonselective MAO inhibitor. Hypertension can occur if these drugs are used concurrently [see Drug Interactions (7.1) ]. INBRIJA is contraindicated in patients currently taking a nonselective monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitor or who have recently (within 2 weeks) taken a nonselective MAO inhibitor ( 4 , 7.1 )
Levodopa drug interactions
Monitor patients on MAO-B inhibitors for orthostatic hypotension ( 7.1 ) Dopamine D2 antagonists, isoniazid, and iron salts: May reduce the effectiveness of INBRIJA ( 7.2 , 7.3 ) 7.1 Monoamine Oxidase (MAO) Inhibitors The use of nonselective MAO inhibitors with INBRIJA is contraindicated [see Contraindications (4) ] . Discontinue use of any nonselective MAO inhibitors at least two weeks prior to initiating INBRIJA. The use of selective MAO-B inhibitors with INBRIJA may be associated with orthostatic hypotension. Monitor patients who are taking these drugs concurrently. 7.2 Dopamine D2 Receptor Antagonists and Isoniazid Dopamine D2 receptor antagonists (e.g., phenothiazines, butyrophenones, risperidone, metoclopramide) and isoniazid may reduce the effectiveness of levodopa. Monitor patients for worsening Parkinson's symptoms. 7.3 Iron Salts Iron salts or multivitamins containing iron salts can form chelates with levodopa and consequently reduce the bioavailability of levodopa.
Levodopa and food
High-protein meals
This is about TIMING, not about eating less protein — you need protein. Many people take levodopa 30 to 60 minutes before a meal, and some are advised to shift most of their protein to the evening. Do not restrict protein on your own; ask your neurologist how to space doses around meals.
SINEMET (carbidopa and levodopa) — FDA label, Clinical Pharmacology (DailyMed) ↗
Every levodopa product we track (2)
Same active ingredient — different manufacturer, form, price and FDA recall record. That last one is what our independent score measures.
| # | Drug | Rating | Type | Form | Generic? | Pharmacy pays | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 70/100 | Prescription | Capsule | No data | — | View → | |
| 2 | Not yet rated | Prescription | Capsule | No data | — | View → |
Combination products containing levodopa
A combination is a different drug — different dosing, different warnings. It is listed here so you can find it, not so you can substitute it.
How long levodopa keeps
No levodopa label we read sets a separate limit for after opening, but they do specify how it must be stored — and the stability behind any date assumes those conditions.
Does levodopa expire? The in-use limits and storage rules from its labelsLevodopa and breastfeeding
From LactMed, the US National Library of Medicine’s Drugs and Lactation Database — quoted, not rewritten.
Full LactMed record for levodopa: levels in milk, effects in breastfed infants, and the drugs it would consider insteadLimited data indicate that levodopa is poorly excreted into breastmilk and that the sustained-release product may result in a smaller amount of drug transferred to the breastfed infant than with the immediate-release product. Several studies indicate that levodopa can decrease serum prolactin during lactation. The prolactin level in a mother with established lactation may not affect her ability to breastfeed. The effect of long-term use of levodopa on breastfeeding has not been adequately evaluated, although some mothers were able to successfully breastfeed her infant without apparent harm while using relatively low doses of levodopa and carbidopa for Parkinson's disease.
National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, record revised February 15, 2026. LactMed states its information is not a substitute for professional judgement.
What people report to the FDA about levodopa
The FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) collects reports from patients and clinicians. It holds 58,702 reports naming levodopa, and the FDA flagged 75% of those reports as serious. The effects reported most often — leaving out reports about overdose, misuse or the condition being treated, which dominate the raw list for common medicines:
- fall6,412 reports
- hallucination5,389 reports
- dyskinesia4,186 reports
- parkinson^s disease3,315 reports
- tremor2,942 reports
- gait disturbance2,857 reports
- confusional state2,698 reports
- on and off phenomenon2,677 reports
Read these as a signal, not a rate. A report does not mean levodopa caused the effect — anyone can file one, and many describe people taking several medicines for several conditions. Crucially there is no denominator: FAERS does not record how many people took the drug, so these counts cannot be turned into “X% of patients” — a bigger number often just means a more widely used or more talked-about drug. Duplicates exist, and publicity drives reporting. For what is actually established, read the FDA label section above.
Source: openFDA drug/event (FAERS), retrieved July 25, 2026.
How long levodopa stays in your system
The elimination half-life of levodopa is about 50 minutes (extended to about 1.5 hours when taken with carbidopa). Per the FDA label, levodopa's plasma half-life is about 50 minutes on its own, but it is increased to about 1.5 hours when given with carbidopa (as in Sinemet) — the standard combination that prevents peripheral breakdown of levodopa. Levodopa is effectively a prodrug: it is converted to dopamine in the body/brain (unlike dopamine itself, it crosses the blood-brain barrier). Because the half-life is so short, the drug clears within a few hours, which is why Parkinson's dosing is frequent; adding a COMT inhibitor such as entacapone further prolongs levodopa exposure. Half-life reflects how the body clears the drug, not a drug-test detection window.
SINEMET (carbidopa and levodopa) tablet — FDA label via DailyMed ↗Half-life is how long the body takes to clear half a dose. It is not the same as how long a drug test can detect it, and it varies with age, kidney and liver function.
Related calculators
Frequently asked questions
What is levodopa?
INBRIJA consists of a dry powder formulation of levodopa for oral inhalation with the INBRIJA inhaler. The inhalation powder is packaged in white hypromellose capsules. Each capsule contains a spray-dried powder of 42 mg levodopa active ingredient with 1,2-dipalmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DPPC) and sodium chloride. The active component of INBRIJA is levodopa, an aromatic amino acid.
What kind of drug is levodopa?
The FDA classifies levodopa as an aromatic amino acid. If you are checking whether it is safe to combine with something else, the class is what matters — two drugs from the same class usually should not be stacked.
How long does levodopa stay in your system?
The elimination half-life of levodopa is about 50 minutes (extended to about 1.5 hours when taken with carbidopa) — that is how long the body takes to clear half of a dose. Per the FDA label, levodopa's plasma half-life is about 50 minutes on its own, but it is increased to about 1.5 hours when given with carbidopa (as in Sinemet) — the standard combination that prevents peripheral breakdown of levodopa. Levodopa is effectively a prodrug: it is converted to dopamine in the body/brain (unlike dopamine itself, it crosses the blood-brain barrier). Because the half-life is so short, the drug clears within a few hours, which is why Parkinson's dosing is frequent; adding a COMT inhibitor such as entacapone further prolongs levodopa exposure. Half-life reflects how the body clears the drug, not a drug-test detection window. Half-life is not the same as how long a drug test can detect the drug, and it varies with age, kidney and liver function.
Can you take levodopa with other medicines?
It depends on the medicine. We check it against the FDA labels rather than guessing: our interaction checker searches each drug's own label for the other and quotes what it says, naming the section it came from. Run levodopa against whatever else you take — and remember that a label not naming a drug is not the same as that combination being safe.
What brand names is levodopa sold under?
We track 2 levodopa-containing products in the U.S.: Bendopa and Inbrija. They are the same active ingredient; they differ in form, manufacturer, price and FDA recall record.
What forms does levodopa come in?
Across the brands we track, levodopa is currently marketed as capsule, per the FDA's National Drug Code Directory. Each form is dosed differently — follow the label for the exact product you were prescribed.
Is there a generic levodopa?
We do not currently list a generic-labelled levodopa product. That does not always mean none exists — it means none appears under a generic name in the FDA data we track. Ask your pharmacist.
What should I avoid while taking levodopa?
Food: meat, fish, eggs, dairy, beans and other protein-heavy foods — and protein shakes — see the food section above for what each one does and whether it means avoiding it or just being consistent. This is what the FDA label and our cited sources say — it is not a complete list. Your pharmacist can check your own combination.
Cite this page
- APA
- pharmaranks. (2026, July 24). Levodopa: uses, dosing, side effects & brands. https://pharmaranks.com/drugs/levodopa
- MLA
- “Levodopa: uses, dosing, side effects & brands.” pharmaranks, 24 July 2026, https://pharmaranks.com/drugs/levodopa.
We summarise public FDA and NIH sources — for a clinical claim, cite the primary source we link to as well.
Sources: FDA openFDA drug label, National Drug Code Directory, and Enforcement (recall) database. This page reproduces public FDA data and is not medical advice. Dosing is set by your prescriber.
Read the full FDA label for levodopa on DailyMed (NIH) ↗.