L-dopa

American  

[el-doh-puh] / ˌɛlˈdoʊ pə /

noun

1. Pharmacology. levodopa.

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L-dopa British  

/ ɛlˈdəʊpə /

noun

1. Also called: levodopa.  a substance occurring naturally in the body and used to treat Parkinson's disease. Formula: C 9 H 11 NO 4

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L-dopa Scientific  

/ ĕl-dō′pə /

1. An amino acid that is the metabolic precursor of dopamine, is converted in the brain to dopamine, and is used in synthetic form to treat Parkinson's disease. Chemical formula: C ₉ H ₁₁ NO ₄ .

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Etymology

Origin of L-dopa

C20: from L-d ( ihydr ) o ( xy ) p ( henyl ) a ( lanine )

Example Sentences

In one condition, the release of dopamine was pharmacologically increased by L-dopa, a precursor of dopamine.

From Science Daily • Sep. 19, 2023

Blossoming, because the people have been “awakened” from the long-lingering effects of encephalitis lethargica — the “sleeping sickness” — by the miracle drug L-dopa, which Sacks administers to them experimentally.

From New York Times • May 25, 2022

Balskus and her team, meanwhile, are testing a molecule that would stop bacteria from breaking down L-dopa.

From Scientific American • Jan. 19, 2020

A doctor tries the drug L-dopa on an immobile man and others like him in 1969 New York.

From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 27, 2019

While drugs such as L-dopa and surgeries such as deep brain stimulation can help manage the symptoms, all attempts to slow, stop or reverse the disease’s course have failed.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 2, 2015