Banana + Levodopa
Levodopa brand names: Larodopa, Inbrija.
Banana has a moderate interaction with Levodopa. Taking banana may reduce the effectiveness of levodopa.
Read the full interaction reportBanana and Levodopa
Here is the interaction we found between these two, with the evidence behind it.
LEVODOPA
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 is the honest picture with bananas and levodopa. Levodopa is actually a precursor that your brain converts into dopamine, which is what eases your Parkinson's symptoms like stiffness, slowness, and tremor. The worry on file is that eating bananas might make levodopa work a little less well, possibly bringing on those 'off' episodes sooner, where movement and walking get harder again.
But let me put this in perspective. This caution comes from a single case report, which is very weak evidence. One person noticed wearing off after eating a banana daily, and it improved when they stopped. That is not proof bananas cause problems for most people. Bananas are a healthy food, so do not avoid them out of fear. If you notice your medication fading faster, mention it to your doctor or pharmacist.
- 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 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 Levodopa
This page covers Banana only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Levodopa page lists 41 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 · 22 moderate · 11 minor.
From our pharmacist’s overview on the Levodopa page
“Parkinson symptoms return fast when levodopa (Larodopa, Inbrija) stops reaching the brain, and most of the 41 supplements on this page can make that happen, so treat these combinations with genuine care. Protein and amino acid supplements compete with levodopa for transport into the brain, while everyday minerals like magnesium and iro…”
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 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 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
#309 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 Oral Inhalation
What Is Levodopa Oral Inhalation Used For?
Brand names: Larodopa, Inbrija
Inbrija is used to treat OFF episodes in adults with Parkinson's disease. An OFF episode is when your regular oral carbidopa/levodopa medication temporarily stops working well enough, causing Parkinson's symptoms — such as stiffness, slowness, or tremor — to return.
Inbrija is used as needed when OFF symptoms start to come back. It is not a replacement for your regular oral carbidopa/levodopa; it works alongside it.
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 ›
- Amoxicillin ›
- Acyclovir ›
- Lisinopril ›
- Bendamustine ›
- Amitriptyline ›
- Doxycycline ›
- Lamotrigine ›
- Fluoxetine ›
- Methotrexate ›
- Pregabalin ›
- Gabapentin ›
- 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
Levodopa Is Linked to Lower Levels of 2 Nutrients
Natural Medicines records 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 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 Levodopa Together: Common Questions
Can you take Banana with Levodopa?
How serious is the Banana and Levodopa interaction?
Written and reviewed by the HelloPharmacist editorial staff. Our editorial policy
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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.