Final answer:
L-DOPA is the primary medication used to increase dopamine in the substantia nigra for Parkinson's disease, helping to compensate for neuronal loss and improve symptoms.
Step-by-step explanation:
The medication used to increase dopamine in the substantia nigra for Parkinson's treatment is primarily L-DOPA (levodopa), a precursor to dopamine that can cross the blood-brain barrier. When taken up by the remaining dopaminergic neurons, it is converted into dopamine, thus compensating for the reduced dopamine production due to neuronal loss in the substantia nigra pars compacta. However, as the disease progresses, patients may become less responsive to L-DOPA, and it may cause increased dopamine levels in other areas of the brain, contributing to side effects like psychosis or schizophrenia.
Other drugs are used to inhibit the enzyme monoamine oxidase B (MAO-B), which breaks down dopamine, thereby increasing its availability in the brain. One of the most commonly prescribed drugs for Parkinson's is L-DOPA, which is a chemical that is converted into dopamine by neurons in the brain. This conversion increases the overall level of dopamine neurotransmission and can help compensate for the loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra. Other drugs work by inhibiting the enzyme that breaks down dopamine.