Comparison of enteric-coated levodopa with levodopa-carbidopa combination. A double-blind crossover trial.
Twenty-seven patients with idiopathic Parkinson's disease completed a double-blind crossover trial which compared enteric-coated levodopa (Prodopa) with levodopa-carbidopa combination (Sinemet). It was easy to stabilize the patients' condition with either drug, and the dose-sparing effect both of the enteric-coated preparation, and of the levodopa-carbidopa combination was again noted. At the dosages used, the levodopa-carbidopa combination was objectively shown to be more effective in 71% of the patients investigated, although there was no clear personal preference for either preparation when patients compared the two parts of the trial. Both drugs play a valuable role in the treatment of Parkinson's disease.
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002230:Carbidopa / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004338:Drug Combinations; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007980:Levodopa / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000188:drug therapy*; D010919:Placebos; D013608:Tablets, Enteric-Coated
D004338:Drug Combinations; D010919:Placebos; D013608:Tablets, Enteric-Coated; D007980:Levodopa; D002230:Carbidopa