Levodopa has a relatively short half-life and interruption of administration of the drug can result in abrupt loss of therapeutic effect within 6 to 12 hours resulting in skeletal muscle rigidity which can interfere with ventilation. Therefore, it is recommended that levodopa be continued as prescribed. Hines RL, Marschall KE. Stoeltings Anesthesia & Co-Existing Diseases. 7th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier-Saunders; 2018: : 293-295