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Methyldopa as an adjunct to levodopa treatment of Parkinson's disease
Author(s) -
Sweet Richard D.,
Lee John E.,
McDowell Fletcher H.
Publication year - 1972
Publication title -
clinical pharmacology and therapeutics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.941
H-Index - 188
eISSN - 1532-6535
pISSN - 0009-9236
DOI - 10.1002/cpt197213123
Subject(s) - levodopa , dyskinesia , methyldopa , medicine , decarboxylase inhibitor , parkinson's disease , nausea , aromatic l amino acid decarboxylase , disease , anesthesia , pharmacology , blood pressure , dopamine
Chronic levodopa treatment of 22 patients with Parkinson's disease was supplemented with methyldopa, an inhibitor of dopa decarboxylase, in doses from 125 to 750 mg. daily. Improvement in maior parameters of Parkinson's disease was seen in 14 patients, 10 of whom had had troublesome fluctuations in response to levodopa. Seven patients were still improved after 20 weeks. Methyldopa worsened dyskinesia in 14 patients, did not affect nausea, and was associated with agitation in 6 patients. Blood pressure did not change significantly. Although inhibition of dopa decarboxylase is methyldopa's most likely mechanism of action, methylated metabolites may also play a role. Methyldopa is a tolerable adiunct to levodopa therapy for Parkimon's disease for patients with rapid fluctuations in motor status.