The clinical efficacy of oral levodopa methyl ester solution in reversing afternoon "off" periods in Parkinson's disease.
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.
Steiger
M J
MJ
Department of Clinical Neurology, Institute of Neurology, London, U.K.
Stocchi
F
F
Carta
A
A
Ruggieri
S
S
Agnoli
A
A
Quinn
N P
NP
Marsden
C D
CD
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*
D004338:Drug Combinations; C005177:benserazide, levodopa drug combination; D007980:Levodopa; D001545:Benserazide; C035420:levodopa methyl ester