AADC inhibitor medications (Parkinson’s disease)

Drugs that block the action of aromatic amino acid decarboxylase (AADC). This prevents the conversion of Levodopa to dopamine in the bloodstream, thus avoiding side effects (for example nausea and lowering of standing blood pressure) and extending the length of time levodopa stays in the blood. This increases the amount of it that can cross the blood-brain barrier into the brain to be converted to dopamine. AADC inhibitors currently prescribed are carbidopa (in the U.S.) and benserazide (available in several other countries). Typically these are taken in combination with lev-odopa in products such as sinemet (levodopa and carbidopa) and Madopar (levodopa and benserazide). Patients usually require roughly 75 mg-100 mg of carbidopa per day to avoid peripheral conversion of levodopa and the associated side effects, but some require more. carbidopa is available by itself as Lodosyn.

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