Long-duration response to levodopa.
We measured the long-duration response to levodopa by changes in tapping rate in 16 patients with Parkinson's disease undergoing 3 to 5 days of levodopa withdrawal. "Off" tapping rates deteriorated 22% over the course of this holiday, the decline beginning 24 hours after levodopa withdrawal. Deterioration was more pronounced in the more affected hand in asymmetrically affected patients. A 2-hour infusion of levodopa after the levodopa holiday did not restore the long-duration response, although it produced a greater short-duration response than before the holiday. These observations indicate that the long-duration response is an important component of the therapeutic benefit of levodopa and is separable from the short-duration response.
Nutt
J G
JG
Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, Oregon Health Sciences University, Portland 97201, USA.
Carter
J H
JH
Woodward
W R
WR
D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007980:Levodopa / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D013997:Time Factors
D007980:Levodopa