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What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking levodopa (Larodopa)?

Do not take levodopa if you have taken a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI), such as isocarboxazid (Marplan), tranylcypromine (Parnate), or phenelzine (Nardil) withinin the past 2 weeks.

Do not take levodopa without first talking to your doctor if you have

• narrow-angle glaucoma (angle closure glaucoma), or
• malignant melanoma (a type of skin cancer).

Before taking this medication, tell your doctor if you have

• any kind of heart disease, including high blood pressure, arteriosclerosis, hardening of the arteries, a previous heart attack, or an irregular heartbeat;
• respiratory disease, including asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD);
• liver disease;
• kidney disease;
• an endocrine (hormonal) disease;
• a stomach or intestinal ulcer;
• wide-angle glaucoma; or
• depression or any other psychiatric disorder.

You may need a dosage adjustment or special monitoring during treatment if you have any of the conditions listed above.

It is not known whether levodopa will be harmful to an unborn baby. Do not take levodopa without first talking to your doctor if you are pregnant or could become pregnant during treatment.

It is not known whether levodopa will be harmful to a nursing infant. Do not take levodopa without first talking to your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.

How should I take levodopa (Larodopa)?

Take levodopa exactly as directed by your doctor. If you do not understand these directions, ask your pharmacist, nurse, or doctor to explain them to you.

Take each dose with a full glass of water.

Levodopa is usually taken several times a day with food. Follow your doctor's instructions.

It is important to take levodopa regularly to get the most benefit.

It may be several weeks or months before the benefits of levodopa are seen. Do not stop taking levodopa without first talking to your doctor.

Your doctor may want you to have blood tests or other medical evaluations during treatment with levodopa to monitor progress and side effects.

Store levodopa at room temperature away from moisture and heat.

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