Summary of Use during Lactation

Limited data indicate that levodopa is poorly excreted into breastmilk and that the sustained-release product may result in a smaller amount of drug transferred to the breastfed infant than with the immediate-release product. Several studies indicate that levodopa can decrease serum prolactin during lactation. The prolactin level in a mother with established lactation may not affect her ability to breastfeed. The effect of long-term use of levodopa on breastfeeding has not been adequately evaluated, although some mothers were able to successfully breastfeed her infant without apparent harm while using relatively low doses of levodopa and carbidopa for Parkinson's disease.

Drug Levels

Maternal Levels. One mother with Parkinson's disease took sustained-release levodopa 200 mg and carbidopa 50 mg 4 times daily. At 4.5 months postpartum, milk levodopa levels were measured after a morning dose of the drug. The peak levodopa milk level occurred 3 hours after the dose at a concentration of 315 mcg/L and returned to baseline of about 200 mcg/L 6 hours after the dose. On a different day, the same mother was given a single dose of immediate-release levodopa 200 mg and carbidopa 50 mg. The peak levodopa milk level occurred 3 hours after the dose at a concentration of 683 mcg/L and returned to baseline of about 220 mcg/L 6 hours after the dose. The infant was breastfed and weighed before and after each feeding. The infant ingested 0.127 mg and 0.181 mg of levodopa after maternal intake of the sustained- and immediate-release products, respectively.[1] Using data in the article, the infant would receive an average of about 0.3% of the maternal weight-adjusted dosage with the sustained release product and 0.5% of the maternal weight-adjusted dosage with the immediate-release product.

Infant Levels. Relevant published information was not found as of the revision date.

Effects in Breastfed Infants

One mother with Parkinson's disease took sustained-release levodopa 200 mg and carbidopa 50 mg 4 times daily. She successfully breastfed her infant whose development was normal at 2 years of age.[1]

A 37-year-old Israeli woman with Parkinson's disease became pregnant while taking a continuous infusion of levodopa 20 mg/mL and carbidopa 5 mg/mL gel. She breastfed her infant for 3 months while receiving the drug, although the extent of breastfeeding and the dosage of the gel is not clear from the paper. At 10 months of age, the infant's psychomotor development was deemed to be normal.[2]

Two women with Parkinson's disease were reported who were taking levodopa and benserazide while breastfeeding. The first took it in an unspecified dosage throughout breastfeeding for 4 months, and had normal early developmental milestones and developed normally up to 10 years of age. The second woman began levodopa 100 mg and benserazide 25 mg three times daily while breastfeeding her 6 month old. At 10 months of age her daughter was healthy and developing well with normal developmental milestones.[3]

Effects on Lactation and Breastmilk

Levodopa decreases serum prolactin in normal women and those with hyperprolactinemia and can suppress inappropriate lactation in galactorrhea, although not consistently.[4-12] The prolactin level in a mother with established lactation may not affect her ability to breastfeed.

One mother with Parkinson's disease took sustained-release levodopa 200 mg and carbidopa 50 mg 4 times daily. She successfully breastfed her infant.[1]

On postpartum day 3, 5 women were given a single oral dose of 500 mg of levodopa or bromocriptine 5 mg followed by a single oral dose of metoclopramide 10 mg 3 hours later. Bromocriptine suppressed basal serum prolactin to a greater extent than levodopa. Over the next 3 hours, serum prolactin increased after metoclopramide in the patients who received levodopa, but not in those who received bromocriptine.[13]

Six women who were 2 to 4 days postpartum, but were not nursing, were given 500 mg of levodopa orally on one day and 100 mg of levodopa plus 35 mg of carbidopa orally on the next day. Both regimens suppressed basal serum prolactin levels. However, levodopa alone caused an 78% decrease in prolactin while the lower dose combination produced only a 51% decrease. The maximal effect occurred about 2 hours after the dose with both regimens.[8]

Seven women in the first week postpartum who were breastfeeding about 7 times daily were given levodopa 500 mg orally and their serum prolactin responses was studied. The following day, they started carbidopa 50 mg orally every 6 hours for 2 days. On the third day, they received a single dose of carbidopa 50 mg plus levodopa 125 mg orally. Decreases in basal serum prolactin occurred by 30 minutes after the levodopa and after 45 minutes with the combination. Decreases were maximum at 120 minutes after the dose and were 62% with levodopa alone and 48% with the combination, although the difference between the 2 regimens was not statistically significant.[14]

A 37-year-old Israeli woman with Parkinson's disease became pregnant while taking a continuous infusion of levodopa 20 mg/mL and carbidopa 5 mg/mL gel. She breastfed her infant for 3 months while receiving the drug, although the extent of breastfeeding and the dosage of the gel is not clear from the paper.[2]

A case series of women with Parkinson’s disease reported on two who were able to breastfeed while taking levodopa.[15]

Two women with Parkinson's disease were reported who were taking levodopa and benserazide while breastfeeding. The first took it in an unspecified dosage throughout breastfeeding for 4 months. The second woman began levodopa 100 mg and benserazide 25 mg three times daily while breastfeeding her 6 month old and continued breastfeeding.[3]

References

1.

Thulin PC, Woodward WR, Carter JH, et al. Levodopa in human breast milk: Clinical implications. Neurology 1998;50:1920-1 [PubMed: 9633767]

2.

Zlotnik Y, Giladi N, Hilel A, et al. Levodopa-carbidopa intestinal gel (LCIG) infusion during pregnancy and delivery: First documented case. Parkinsonism Relat Disord 2014;20:1317-8 [PubMed: 25262534]

3.

Lehn AC, Lee JY, Sciacca G, et al. The management of Parkinson's disease before, during and after pregnancy-an MDS scientific issues committee review. Mov Disord Clin Pract 2026;13:44-59 [PMC free article: PMC12839509] [PubMed: 40832691]

4.

Ayalon D, Peyser MR, Toaff R, et al. Effect of L-dopa on galactopoiesis and gonadotropin levels in the inappropriate lactation syndrome. Obstet Gynecol 1974;44:159-70 [PubMed: 4418555]

5.

Leblanc H, Yen SS. The effect of L-dopa and chlorpromazine on prolactin and growth hormone secretion in normal women. Am J Obstet Gynecol 1976;126:162-4 [PubMed: 961756]

6.

Board JA, Fierro RJ, Wasserman AJ, et al. Effects of alpha- and beta-adrenergic blocking agents on serum prolactin levels in women with hyperprolactinemia and galactorrhea. Am J Obstet Gynecol 1977;127:285-7 [PubMed: 556882]

7.

Kaulhausen H, Oney T, Leyendecker G. Inhibition of the renin-aldosterone axis and of prolactin secretion during pregnancy by L-dopa. Br J Obstet Gynaecol 1982;89:483-8 [PubMed: 7044409]

8.

Rao R, Scommegna A, Frohman LA. Integrity of central dopaminergic system in women with postpartum hyperprolactinemia. Am J Obstet Gynecol 1982;143:883-7 [PubMed: 7102764]

9.

Malarkey WB, Jacobs LS, Daughaday WH. Levodopa suppression of prolactin in nonpuerperal galactorrhea. N Engl J Med 1971;285:1160-3 [PubMed: 5107027]

10.

Rapoport B, Refetoff S, Fang VS, et al. Suppression of serum thyrotropin (TSH) by l-dopa in chronic hypothyroidism: Interrelationships in the regulation of TSH and prolactin secretion. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 1973;36:256-62 [PubMed: 4630270]

11.

Refetoff S, Fang VS, Rapoport B, et al. Interrelationships in the regulation of TSH and prolactin secretion in man: effects of l-dopa, TRH and thyroid hormone in various combinations. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 1974;38:450-7 [PubMed: 4205563]

12.

Masala A, Alagna S, Devilla L, et al. Muscarinic receptor blockade by pirenzepine: Effect on prolactin secretion in man. J Endocrinol Invest 1982;5:53-5 [PubMed: 6808052]

13.

Nappi C, Mercorio F, Nappi F, et al. Effect of oral administration of metoclopramide on blood levels of prolactin in the puerperium. Arch Ostet Ginecol 1981;86:75-85 [PubMed: 7201788]

14.

Petraglia F, De Leo V, Sardelli S, et al. Prolactin changes after administration of agonist and antagonist dopaminergic drugs in puerperal women. Gynecol Obstet Invest 1987;23:103-9 [PubMed: 3583091]

15.

Armas C, Núñez Y, Gushiken G, et al. Pregnancy in Parkinson's disease (PD): Five cases. Mov Disord 2024;39:S391. doi:10.1002/mds.29952 [CrossRef]

Substance Name

Levodopa

CAS Registry Number

59-92-7

Drug Class

Breast Feeding

Lactation

Milk, Human

Antiparkinson Agents

Dopamine Agents