title: The clinical efficacy of oral levodopa methyl ester solution in reversing afternoon "off" periods in Parkinson's disease.
abstract: We compared the efficacy of a single dose of an oral solution of levodopa methyl ester (ME) to that of standard levodopa, in the form of a single dose of Madopar, in reversing afternoon "off" periods in 12 patients with Parkinson's disease (PD). The highly soluble ME solution led to a significantly more rapid reversal of "off" periods. This preparation may therefore convey a clinical advantage in patients experiencing motor fluctuations whilst taking multiple daily dosages of levodopa, particularly in those with long or highly variable latency to the next "on" period.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Neurology, Institute of Neurology, London, U.K.
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Steiger
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Stocchi
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Carta
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ruggieri
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Agnoli
authors.forename: N P
authors.initials: NP
authors.lastname: Quinn
authors.forename: C D
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Marsden
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000368:Aged; D001545:Benserazide / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004338:Drug Combinations; D006801:Humans; D007980:Levodopa / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008875:Middle Aged; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000188:drug therapy*
chemical_list: D004338:Drug Combinations; C005177:benserazide, levodopa drug combination; D007980:Levodopa; D001545:Benserazide; C035420:levodopa methyl ester