Benserazide

Benserazide
Systematic (IUPAC) name
2-amino-3-hydroxy-N′-(2,3,4-trihydroxybenzyl)propanehydrazide
Clinical data
AHFS/Drugs.com International Drug Names
Pregnancy cat. B3(AU)
Legal status POM (UK) (with levodopa)
Pharmacokinetic data
Excretion Renal and fecal
Identifiers
CAS number 14919-77-8
ATC code  ?
PubChem CID 2327
ChemSpider 2237 Y
UNII B66E5RK36Q Y
KEGG D03082 Y
ChEMBL CHEMBL1096979 Y
Chemical data
Formula C10H15N3O5 
Mol. mass 257.243 g/mol
SMILES eMolecules & PubChem
 Y(what is this?)  (verify)

Benserazide (also called Serazide or Ro 4-4602) is a peripherally-acting aromatic L-amino acid decarboxylase (AAAD) or DOPA decarboxylase inhibitor, which is unable to cross the blood-brain barrier.[1]

Indications

It is used in the management of Parkinson's disease in combination with L-DOPA (levodopa) as co-beneldopa (BAN), under the brand names Madopar in the UK and Prolopa in Canada, both made by Roche. Benserazide is not approved for use in the US; carbidopa is used instead for the same purpose. These combinations are also used for the treatment of restless legs syndrome.[2]

Pharmacology

Levodopa is a precursor to the neurotransmitter dopamine which is administered to increase its levels in the central nervous system. However, most levodopa is decarboxylated to dopamine before it reaches the brain, and since dopamine is unable to cross the blood-brain barrier, this translates to little therapeutic gain with strong peripheral side effects.

Benserazide inhibits this decarboxylation, and since it itself cannot cross the blood-brain barrier, this allows dopamine to build up solely in the brain instead. Adverse effects caused by peripheral dopamine, such as nausea and arrhythmia, are minimized. However, benserazide cannot reduce the centrally-mediated side effects of levodopa, particularly dyskinesia.

Benserazide has little therapeutic effect on its own, and is only administered in combination with levodopa.

References

  1. ^ Shen H, Kannari K, Yamato H, Arai A, Matsunaga M (March 2003). "Effects of benserazide on L-DOPA-derived extracellular dopamine levels and aromatic L-amino acid decarboxylase activity in the striatum of 6-hydroxydopamine-lesioned rats". The Tohoku journal of experimental medicine 199 (3): 149–59. doi:10.1620/tjem.199.149. PMID 12703659. http://joi.jlc.jst.go.jp/JST.JSTAGE/tjem/199.149?from=PubMed. 
  2. ^ Ryan, Melody; Slevin, John T. (2006). "Restless legs syndrome". American Journal of Health-System Pharmacy. 63 (17): 1599-1612. Retrieved on 2008-02-06.