Question

a nurse is teaching a client who has a new diagnosis of parkinson’s disease about how levodopa/carbidopa can help control manifestations. the nurse should identify that the medication has which of the following pharmacologic effects?

• increases available acetylcholine in the brain
• inhibits norepinephrine metabolism in the brain
• inhibits serotonin metabolism in the brain
• increases available dopamine in the brain

Explanation:

Parkinson's disease is caused by a deficiency of dopamine in the brain. Levodopa is converted to dopamine in the brain, and carbidopa prevents its breakdown in the periphery, thus increasing available dopamine. The other options are incorrect: acetylcholine increase is not the mechanism, nor do these drugs inhibit norepinephrine or serotonin metabolism.

Answer:

D. Increases available dopamine in the brain