Banana + Carbidopa, Levodopa
Carbidopa, Levodopa brand names: Sinemet CR, Sinemet, Rytary, Dhivy.
Banana has a moderate interaction with Carbidopa, Levodopa. Taking banana may reduce the effectiveness of levodopa.
Read the full interaction reportBanana and Carbidopa, Levodopa
Here is the interaction we found between these two, with the evidence behind it.
LEVODOPA
Why this applies to Carbidopa, Levodopa
Carbidopa, Levodopa falls under LEVODOPA — the group Banana interacts with.
A case report describes apparent wearing off in a patient with Parkinson disease after eating a banana every day. The wearing off subsided after removing dietary bananas.
Interaction has been documented in animal or in lab research, or the interaction has been documented in humans but is limited to case reports or conflicting clinical research exists.
Here's the short version: there's a single old case report where one person with Parkinson's seemed to notice their levodopa wearing off (more tremor, stiffness, and slowness creeping back) when they ate a banana every day. When they stopped the daily banana, the wearing off settled down. Levodopa is the active player here, turning into dopamine in your brain, while the carbidopa just protects it, so anything that nudges levodopa absorption could in theory blunt how well your dose works.
I want to be honest with you, though: this is anecdotal, one-person evidence, not a proven effect. A banana now and then is very unlikely to be a problem for most people. If you eat them often and feel your symptoms returning sooner, jot it down and mention it to your pharmacist or doctor before changing anything.
- Hotozuka S, Yasu T, Hikita E, Shirota M. Interaction Between Levodopa and Banana in a Patient With Parkinson's Disease. Am J Ther 2022;29(4):465-467. PubMed
What These Ratings Mean
Every interaction above is graded three ways — here’s the key to each label.
Clinically significant. Avoid the combination, or use only under close professional supervision.
Usually worth avoiding or managing — may need monitoring, a dose change, or timing apart.
Generally not serious. Be aware of it and mention it to your pharmacist.
- LikelyWell-controlled human studies have demonstrated the likely existence of this interaction.
- ProbableInteraction has not been documented in well-controlled studies, however, the interaction has been demonstrated in some small human studies or in controlled animal studies in conjunction with multiple case reports.
- PossibleInteraction has been documented in animal or in lab research, or the interaction has been documented in humans but is limited to case reports or conflicting clinical research exists.
- UnlikelyInteraction has been demonstrated in animal or in lab research but has been shown not to occur in humans.
- AHigh-quality meta-analysis (quantitative systematic review).
- BCase-control study.
- CConsensus.
- DAnecdotal evidence.
These ratings are for information only. Never start, stop, or otherwise change your therapy before speaking with your provider.
Banana Also Interacts With Other Medications
Banana has 4 moderate known drug interactions in our database — the Carbidopa, Levodopa one above is one of them. If you take anything else, check it against the full list below.
Check Another of Your Medications Against Banana
We haven’t checked that one against Banana yet — ask our pharmacists directly.
Covers the 2,830 medications we’ve checked against Banana. Pick one to open its full report.
See Every Supplement That Interacts With Carbidopa, Levodopa
This page covers Banana only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Carbidopa, Levodopa page lists 43 supplements it has a documented interaction with, worst first, each one explained.
The most serious there right now: Activated Charcoal (major), Branched-chain Amino Acids (bcaa) (major), Cowhage (major), Indian Snakeroot (major) and Magnesium (major).
By severity: 8 major · 24 moderate · 11 minor.
From our pharmacist’s overview on the Carbidopa, Levodopa page
“Carbidopa/levodopa (Sinemet, Rytary) anchors Parkinson's treatment, and because symptom control hinges on how much levodopa actually reaches the brain, the 43 supplements and herbs on this list deserve real respect before you add any of them. Eight carry a major rating, and almost all of the serious entries weaken the drug rather than…”
Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026
Taking Banana as Part of a Dietary Supplement Product? Check It for Interactions
We hold 985 real supplement products containing Banana, each one broken down to its full ingredient list — and combination products often carry several ingredients besides Banana. Your product may carry other ingredients that interact with Carbidopa, Levodopa too, on top of Banana — and those would not show on this page. Find your product and we’ll check every ingredient on its label:
Where Banana and Carbidopa, Levodopa Sit Against Everything Else
Out of every supplement and medication people look up on HelloPharmacist, here is where these two land this week — and which way each has been moving.
#271 of 1,452 supplements looked up here in the last 7 days
#86 of 2,830 medications looked up here in the last 7 days
Position among everything looked up on this site, not a measure of how commonly either one is used or how important it is. A supplement can climb this list because of a news story. It counts every request to the page, automated ones included, and nothing here identifies anyone.
About Banana
What is Banana?
- Source of potassium and energy
- Digestive health and diarrhea
- Blood pressure support
- Heartburn and stomach ulcers (traditional)
- Weight management
Bananas are a nutritious, widely eaten fruit that provide potassium, fiber, vitamin B6, and quick energy, and they are part of a healthy diet. While some traditional uses (like easing diarrhea or supporting blood pressure) have plausible support, most specific health claims are not strongly proven. For most people bananas are a safe food, but those with kidney problems or a latex-fruit allergy should be cautious.
About Levodopa and Carbidopa
What Is Levodopa and Carbidopa Used For?
Brand names: Sinemet CR, Sinemet, Rytary, Dhivy
Levodopa and carbidopa is used to treat Parkinson's disease, post-encephalitic parkinsonism (parkinsonism that develops after a brain infection), and symptomatic parkinsonism that can follow carbon monoxide or manganese poisoning. These indications are shared across the oral tablet, orally disintegrating tablet, extended-release tablet, and extended-release capsule formulations (including Sinemet, Rytary, Crexont, and generic products).
DUOPA — a carbidopa/levodopa suspension given through a tube directly into the small intestine — is specifically indicated for the treatment of motor fluctuations in patients with advanced Parkinson's disease. This is a product-specific indication and does not apply to the oral forms.
Other Drugs & Banana
Browse every other medication we’ve checked against Banana — both the ones with a known interaction and the ones without. Select any drug for the full detail.
No drugs match “”.
4 interactions
No interaction 2,825 drugs checked — show the list
We also checked Banana against these medications and found no known interaction in our sources. Open any page to confirm.
- Apixaban ›
- Levothyroxine ›
- Amlodipine ›
- Methylphenidate ›
- Warfarin ›
- Sertraline ›
- Testosterone ›
- Losartan Potassium ›
- Metoprolol ›
- Aspirin ›
- Ivermectin ›
- Rivaroxaban ›
- Rosuvastatin ›
- Escitalopram ›
- Tadalafil ›
- Acetaminophen ›
- Clopidogrel ›
- Atorvastatin ›
- Valacyclovir ›
- Docusate ›
- Hydroxyurea ›
- Abemaciclib ›
- Ibuprofen ›
- Methamphetamine ›
- Semaglutide ›
- Sumatriptan ›
- Tirzepatide ›
- Warfarin Sodium ›
- Prednisone ›
- Propranolol ›
- Lisdexamfetamine ›
- Bupropion ›
- Metformin ›
- Acyclovir ›
- Amoxicillin ›
- Lisinopril ›
- Bendamustine ›
- Amitriptyline ›
- Doxycycline ›
- Lamotrigine ›
- Methotrexate ›
- Fluoxetine ›
- Gabapentin ›
- Pregabalin ›
- Amphetamine ›
- Acetaminophen, Codeine ›
- Isotretinoin ›
- Azithromycin ›
- Dextroamphetamine ›
- Clonazepam ›
- Omeprazole ›
- Quetiapine ›
- Methylene Blue ›
- Amlodipine Besylate ›
- Duloxetine ›
- Letrozole ›
- Buspirone ›
- Citalopram ›
- Ciprofloxacin ›
- Naproxen ›
Showing the 60 most looked-up of 2,825 medications checked with no known interaction — see the full Banana list.
Sources & How We Checked
Interaction details are evidence-graded and sourced from the Natural Medicines database. The medication overview comes from MedlinePlus.
- Natural Medicines (Therapeutic Research Center) — Evidence-graded clinical reference for vitamins, herbs and supplements — the basis for our interaction data.
- MedlinePlus, U.S. National Library of Medicine — NIH consumer drug information, used for the medication overviews.
- NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database (DSLD) — Official supplement product labels.
Content is written and reviewed by licensed HelloPharmacist pharmacists. See our data sources and editorial standards for how this information is built and checked.
Parts of this content are provided by the Therapeutic Research Center, LLC.
DISCLAIMER: Currently this does not check for drug-drug interactions. This is not an all-inclusive comprehensive list of potential interactions and is for informational purposes only. Not all interactions are known or well-reported in the scientific literature, and new interactions are continually being reported. Input is needed from a qualified healthcare provider including a pharmacist before starting any therapy. Application of clinical judgment is necessary.
© 2021 Therapeutic Research Center, LLC
Carbidopa, Levodopa Is Linked to Lower Levels of 2 Nutrients
Natural Medicines records Carbidopa, Levodopa as a medicine that can lower these. This is not an interaction with Banana — it is a separate effect of the medicine, and it is a reason some people are advised to supplement rather than to avoid one:
Read the full Carbidopa, Levodopa nutrient depletion report ›
Depletion records come from the licensed Natural Medicines database. Do not start a supplement on the strength of this page — ask your pharmacist or doctor whether it applies to you.
Taking Banana and Carbidopa, Levodopa Together: Common Questions
Can you take Banana with Carbidopa, Levodopa?
How serious is the Banana and Carbidopa, Levodopa interaction?
Written and reviewed by the HelloPharmacist editorial staff. Our editorial policy
Still Have a Question About Carbidopa, Levodopa and Banana?
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This information is for education only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always check with your pharmacist or doctor before starting, stopping, or combining supplements and medications.