Carbidopa

Carbidopa
Clinical data
Trade names	Lodosyn
AHFS/Drugs.com	Monograph
License data	EU EMA: by INN; US FDA: Carbidopa;
Legal status
Legal status	UK: POM (Prescription only); US: ℞-only;
Pharmacokinetic data
Protein binding	76%
Metabolism	7 metabolites known, not metabolized extensively
Elimination half-life	2 hours
Identifiers
	IUPAC name (2S)-3-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)-2-hydrazino-2-methylpropanoic acid;
CAS Number	28860-95-9 ;
PubChem CID	34359;
IUPHAR/BPS	5159;
DrugBank	DB00190 ;
ChemSpider	31640 ;
UNII	KR87B45RGH;
KEGG	D00558 ;
ChEBI	CHEBI:39585 ;
ChEMBL	ChEMBL1201236 ;
CompTox Dashboard (EPA)	DTXSID4022735 ;
ECHA InfoCard	100.044.778
Chemical and physical data
Formula	C10H14N2O4
Molar mass	226.232 g·mol−1
3D model (JSmol)	Interactive image;
Melting point	203 to 205 °C (397 to 401 °F)
	SMILES O=C(O)[C@@](NN)(Cc1cc(O)c(O)cc1)C;
	InChI InChI=1S/C10H14N2O4/c1-10(12-11,9(15)16)5-6-2-3-7(13)8(14)4-6/h2-4,12-14H,5,11H2,1H3,(H,15,16)/t10-/m0/s1 ; Key:TZFNLOMSOLWIDK-JTQLQIEISA-N ;
	(what is this?) (verify)

Carbidopa, sold under the brand name Lodosyn, is a medication used primarily in the treatment of Parkinson's disease. It is a DOPA decarboxylase inhibitor — that is, it blocks the enzyme aromatic L-amino acid decarboxylase (DDC) in the peripheral nervous system, preventing the premature conversion of levodopa to dopamine outside the brain. Because carbidopa cannot cross the blood-brain barrier, it has no effect on DDC activity within the central nervous system, allowing a greater proportion of co-administered levodopa to reach the brain intact.

Medical uses

Parkinson's disease

Parkinson's disease is characterized by the progressive loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra. The primary pharmacologic strategy is to supplement declining dopamine levels by administering its precursor, levodopa, which (unlike dopamine itself) can cross the blood-brain barrier. However, without a peripheral DDC inhibitor, much of an oral levodopa dose is converted to dopamine in the body before it ever reaches the brain, both reducing therapeutic efficacy and causing peripheral side effects such as nausea and cardiovascular disturbances.^[1]

Co-administration of carbidopa addresses this problem. By inhibiting peripheral DDC, carbidopa reduces the required levodopa dose by approximately 75% and extends levodopa's plasma half-life from roughly 50 minutes to about 1.5 hours. The combination is commercially available under several brand names, including Sinemet, Kinson, Pharmacopa, and Atamet. A triple combination with entacapone (a COMT inhibitor that further enhances levodopa bioavailability) is marketed as Stalevo.^[2]

Serotonergic Enhancement

Carbidopa is also used in combination with 5-hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP), a naturally occurring amino acid and precursor to serotonin. Because DDC also catalyzes the conversion of 5-HTP to serotonin, carbidopa can prevent this conversion peripherally and increase the amount of 5-HTP available to reach the central nervous system^[3]. In some European clinical settings, 5-HTP is prescribed with carbidopa for this purpose. However, several cases of scleroderma-like illness have been reported in patients using the combination^[4].

Pharmacology

Carbidopa is a peripheral inhibitor of aromatic L-amino acid decarboxylase (also called DOPA decarboxylase or DDC), the enzyme responsible for converting levodopa to dopamine and 5-hydroxytryptophan to serotonin. DDC is present both in peripheral tissues and in the central nervous system. However, carbidopa itself does not significantly cross the blood-brain barrier and therefore acts mainly outside the brain.

This property is important in the treatment of Parkinson's disease. Levodopa can cross the blood-brain barrier, whereas dopamine cannot. When levodopa is given alone, a substantial portion is converted to dopamine in peripheral tissues before it reaches the brain. By inhibiting peripheral DDC, carbidopa decreases this premature conversion and increases the amount of levodopa available for transport into the central nervous system.

When administered with levodopa, carbidopa increases levodopa plasma levels and prolongs its half-life. It also reduces the amount of levodopa required to achieve a therapeutic response and decreases peripheral dopaminergic adverse effects. Fixed-dose combinations of carbidopa/levodopa are widely used, and combinations including entacapone are also marketed. Other DDC inhibitors include benserazide, difluoromethyldopa, and α-methyldopa.

Chemistry

Carbidopa is chemically designated as N-amino-α-methyl-3-hydroxy-L-tyrosine monohydrate, with the empirical formula C₁₀H₁₄N₂O₄·H₂O and a molecular weight of 244.3 (anhydrous). It is a white, crystalline compound that is slightly soluble in water.

Synthesis

The synthesis begins with a modified Strecker reaction using hydrazine and potassium cyanide on arylacetone (1) to give 2. This is then hydrolyzed with cold hydrochloric acid (HCl) to give carboxamide 3. More vigorous hydrolysis with 48% hydrobromic acid (HBr) cleaves both the amide bond and the aryl ether groups to produce carbidopa (4).

References

^ "Medications for Motor Symptoms | Parkinson's Disease". www.michaeljfox.org. Retrieved 2026-03-07.
^ Gilbert R (2024-10-08). "Carbidopa/Levodopa Formulations & Parkinson's Disease | APDA". American Parkinson Disease Association. Retrieved 2026-03-07.
^ Smarius LJ, Jacobs GE, Hoeberechts-Lefrandt DH, de Kam ML, van der Post JP, de Rijk R, et al. (June 2008). "Pharmacology of rising oral doses of 5-hydroxytryptophan with carbidopa". Journal of Psychopharmacology. 22 (4): 426–433. doi:10.1177/0269881107082025. PMID 18308795.
^ Sternberg EM, Van Woert MH, Young SN, Magnussen I, Baker H, Gauthier S, et al. (October 1980). "Development of a scleroderma-like illness during therapy with L-5-hydroxytryptophan and carbidopa". The New England Journal of Medicine. 303 (14): 782–787. doi:10.1056/NEJM198010023031403. PMID 6997735.
^ Sletzinger M, Chemerda JM, Bollinger FW (March 1963). "Potent Decarboxylase Inhibitors. Analogs of Methyldopa¹". Journal of Medicinal Chemistry. 6 (2): 101–103. doi:10.1021/jm00338a003. PMID 14188777.
^ Karady S, Ly MG, Pines SH, Sletzinger M (1971). "Synthesis of D- and L-α-(3,4-dihydroxybenzyl)-α-hydrazinopropionic acid via resolution". The Journal of Organic Chemistry. 36 (14): 1946–1948. doi:10.1021/jo00813a023.
^ Karady S, Ly MG, Pines SH, Sletzinger M (1971). "Synthesis of L-α-(3,4-dihydroxybenzyl)-α-hydrazinopropionic acid from optically active precursors by N-homologization". The Journal of Organic Chemistry. 36 (14): 1949–1951. doi:10.1021/jo00813a024.
^ GB 940596, Chemerda JM, Sletzinger M, Bollinger FW, "α-hydrazino acids", published 1963-10-30, assigned to Merck & Co. Inc.
^ DE 2062285, Karady S, Pines SH, Ly MG, Sletzinger M, Allegretti JE, Wildman Jr AS, "L-α-Hydrazino-β-phenylpropionsäure-Verbindungen enthaltendes Arzneimittel [L-alpha-hydrazino-beta-phenylpropionic acid compounds, decarboxylase inhibitors]", published 1971-07-01, assigned to Merck & Co. Inc.
^ DE 2062332, Karady S, Pines SH, Ly MG, Sletzinger M, Allegretti JE, Wildman Jr AS, "L-α-Hydrazino-β-phenylpropionsäure-Verbindungen und Verfahren zu deren Herstellung[L-alpha-hydrazino-beta-phenylpropionic acid compounds and processes for their preparation]", published 1971-07-15, assigned to Merck & Co. Inc.

External links

[1] "Medications for Motor Symptoms | Parkinson's Disease". www.michaeljfox.org. Retrieved 2026-03-07.

[2] Gilbert R (2024-10-08). "Carbidopa/Levodopa Formulations & Parkinson's Disease | APDA". American Parkinson Disease Association. Retrieved 2026-03-07.

[3] Smarius LJ, Jacobs GE, Hoeberechts-Lefrandt DH, de Kam ML, van der Post JP, de Rijk R, et al. (June 2008). "Pharmacology of rising oral doses of 5-hydroxytryptophan with carbidopa". Journal of Psychopharmacology. 22 (4): 426–433. doi:10.1177/0269881107082025. PMID 18308795.

[4] Sternberg EM, Van Woert MH, Young SN, Magnussen I, Baker H, Gauthier S, et al. (October 1980). "Development of a scleroderma-like illness during therapy with L-5-hydroxytryptophan and carbidopa". The New England Journal of Medicine. 303 (14): 782–787. doi:10.1056/NEJM198010023031403. PMID 6997735.

[5] Sletzinger M, Chemerda JM, Bollinger FW (March 1963). "Potent Decarboxylase Inhibitors. Analogs of Methyldopa¹". Journal of Medicinal Chemistry. 6 (2): 101–103. doi:10.1021/jm00338a003. PMID 14188777.

[6] Karady S, Ly MG, Pines SH, Sletzinger M (1971). "Synthesis of D- and L-α-(3,4-dihydroxybenzyl)-α-hydrazinopropionic acid via resolution". The Journal of Organic Chemistry. 36 (14): 1946–1948. doi:10.1021/jo00813a023.

[7] Karady S, Ly MG, Pines SH, Sletzinger M (1971). "Synthesis of L-α-(3,4-dihydroxybenzyl)-α-hydrazinopropionic acid from optically active precursors by N-homologization". The Journal of Organic Chemistry. 36 (14): 1949–1951. doi:10.1021/jo00813a024.

[8] GB 940596, Chemerda JM, Sletzinger M, Bollinger FW, "α-hydrazino acids", published 1963-10-30, assigned to Merck & Co. Inc.

[9] DE 2062285, Karady S, Pines SH, Ly MG, Sletzinger M, Allegretti JE, Wildman Jr AS, "L-α-Hydrazino-β-phenylpropionsäure-Verbindungen enthaltendes Arzneimittel [L-alpha-hydrazino-beta-phenylpropionic acid compounds, decarboxylase inhibitors]", published 1971-07-01, assigned to Merck & Co. Inc.

[10] DE 2062332, Karady S, Pines SH, Ly MG, Sletzinger M, Allegretti JE, Wildman Jr AS, "L-α-Hydrazino-β-phenylpropionsäure-Verbindungen und Verfahren zu deren Herstellung[L-alpha-hydrazino-beta-phenylpropionic acid compounds and processes for their preparation]", published 1971-07-15, assigned to Merck & Co. Inc.

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