title: Clinical and pharmacokinetic evaluation of controlled-release levodopa/carbidopa (CR-4) in parkinsonian patients with severe motor fluctuations: a six month follow-up study.
abstract: The results of a six month open-label study comparing the efficacy of controlled-release levodopa-carbidopa (Sinemet CR-4 200 mg/50 mg) with standard levodopa/carbidopa (250 mg/25 mg) in 17 patients with idiopathic Parkinson's disease and severe response fluctuations, are reported. Major clinical benefits included; improvement of disability, reduction of the number of 'off' periods (predominantly end-of-dose hypokinesia) and a slight increase in 'on' time. No improvement was observed in two of our patients. Mean levodopa plasma levels were comparable between the two types of formulations during optimal treatment, however systemic bioavailability was significantly higher with CR-4. Delayed onset of antiparkinsonian effect of CR-4, resulting from an increase of Tmax for levodopa, was one of the major complaints and required additional small amounts of standard levodopa in three patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, University Hospital, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Belgium.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Deleu
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Jacques
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Michotte
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ebinger
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002230:Carbidopa / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004338:Drug Combinations / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007980:Levodopa / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009069:Movement Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy
chemical_list: D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D004338:Drug Combinations; C009265:carbidopa, levodopa drug combination; D007980:Levodopa; D002230:Carbidopa