title: Are levodopa "drug holidays" justified?
abstract: Complete withdrawal of all levodopa compounds "drug holiday" for a period of at least one week in severely disabled, unresponsive Parkinson patients may influence receptor blockade by resensitizing and can alter denervation hypersensitivity. Twenty four patients with 31 holidays were evaluated. Transient improvement was noted in most patients, however significant long term benefit of over 1 years duration occurred in only 6 individuals. In view of the unpredictability and limited responsiveness, drug holiday has not yet been established as a satisfactory treatment for the severe, intractable problems associated with chronic levodopa administration in Parkinson patients. Further trials appear to be warranted.
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D007980:Levodopa / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009068:Movement; D010043:Outcome and Process Assessment, Health Care; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D007980:Levodopa