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THERAPEUTIC GUIDELINES AND SIDE EFFECTS ENCOUNTERED DURING L ‐DOPA THERAPY IN 100 CASES OF PARKINSONISM
Author(s) -
Jenkins A. C.,
Schwieger A. C.
Publication year - 1971
Publication title -
medical journal of australia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.904
H-Index - 131
eISSN - 1326-5377
pISSN - 0025-729X
DOI - 10.5694/j.1326-5377.1971.tb92498.x
Subject(s) - parkinsonism , anticholinergic , decarboxylase inhibitor , medicine , side effect (computer science) , therapeutic effect , levodopa , pharmacology , intensive care medicine , parkinson's disease , disease , computer science , programming language
In a series of over 100 Parkinsonian patients receiving l‐dopa over a period of 18 months, the results of treatment show that at least 70% respond far beyond the effects obtained from conventional anticholinergic drugs. There are, however, a large number of side effects which accompany l‐dopa therapy, including gastro‐intestinal, cardio‐vascular, psychiatric and neurological reactions. These are discussed in detail and in relation to dosage. A discussion is presented on the future of l‐dopa, its possible combination with an extracerebral decarboxylase inhibitor, together with theories of other cellular metabolic effects. Because of these factors, It is recommended that the administration of l‐dopa remain restricted to neurologists until the longer‐term effects are known.