L-dopa-carbidopa: combined therapy for the treatment of Parkinson's disease.
It is now generally acknowledged that L-Dopa is the therapy of choice for Parkinson's Disease. However, L-Dopa has some short comings: It requires large daily dosage, the therapeutic benefits are achieved only after a delayed onset of 1-2 months, and it has a number of side effects both central and peripheral. In the last few years there has been an intense search for agents that are less toxic, more efficient and more rapidly acting that L-Dopa. The ideal agent has not yet been found. However, a combination therapy with L-Dopa and dopa decarboxylase inhibitors has shown promise. The decarboxylase inhibitors used have a large molecule which does not cross the blood brain barrier. Thus when L-Dopa and the decarboxylase inhibitor are given togehher, peripheral production of dopamine from L-Dopa is inhibited, therefore, rendering L-Dopa more readily and rapidly available for brain metabolism. In the present paper we present the results of the treatment of 50 patients on combined therapy using L-Dopa combined with Carbidopa.
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002230:Carbidopa / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D004338:Drug Combinations; D006801:Humans; D006834:Hydrazines / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D007980:Levodopa / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000188:drug therapy*
D004338:Drug Combinations; D006834:Hydrazines; D007980:Levodopa; D002230:Carbidopa