Levodopa-driven nausea and vomiting

Levodopa-driven Nausea and Vomiting

Levodopa-driven nausea and vomiting is a common side effect of therapies for Parkinson's Disease. Patients may experience nausea or vomiting anywhere from 2-3 days after starting levodopa- form treatments. These symptoms may appear intermittently, with episodes becoming more severe or prolonged as time passes.

The mechanism of levodopa-driven nausea and vomiting is not well understood. It may be due to overstimulation of dopamine receptors in the stomach, or it may be caused by a plaquespasm, or involuntary contractions, of the stomach muscles.

Here are some tips to help manage levodopa-driven nausea and vomiting:

• Take levodopa-based therapies with food or a full glass of water.
• Eat frequent, small meals.
• Consume food that is easy to digest, such as avoid spicy or fatty foods.
• Give your body extra time to digest food after levodopa-based therapy doses.
• Choose Anti-Nausea medications that are compatible with your therapy.
• For severe bouts of nausea and vomiting, ask your doctor about Dopamine-blocking agents.
• Discuss other therapeutic options, such as MAO-B inhibitors, with your doctor.

These tips should be followed as part of a comprehensive plan with your doctor to improve the quality of life for those with Parkinson's Disease.