Skip to main content
NCBI home page
British Medical Journal logoLink to British Medical Journal
. 1971 Sep 25;3(5777):729–732. doi: 10.1136/bmj.3.5777.729

Idiopathic Parkinsonism Treated with an Extracerebral Decarboxylase Inhibitor in Combination with Levodopa

D B Calne, J L Reid, S D Vakil, Sumant Rao, A Petrie, C A Pallis, J Gawler, P K Thomas, A Hilson
PMCID: PMC1798919  PMID: 4938431

Abstract

The clinical actions of levodopa in Parkinsonism, given with and without an extracerebral decarboxylase in hibitor, L-alpha-methyldopahydrazine, were compared. Twenty-one patients were investigated in a “double-blind cross-over” study, administering levodopa in maximum tolerated dosage. L-Alpha-methyldopahydrazine failed to augment the overall therapeutic actions of levodopa but it consistently alleviated nausea. It is concluded that L-alpha-methyldopahydrazine will prove useful in the management of some Parkinsonian patients who have difficulty in taking levodopa alone.

Full text

PDF
729

Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

  1. Barbeau A., Gillo-Joffroy L., Mars H. Treatment of Parkinson's disease with levodopa and Ro 4-4602. Clin Pharmacol Ther. 1971 Mar-Apr;12(2):353–359. doi: 10.1002/cpt1971122part2353. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  2. Bartholini G., Burkard W. P., Pletscher A. Increase of cerebral catecholamines caused by 3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine after inhibition of peripheral decarboxylase. Nature. 1967 Aug 19;215(5103):852–853. doi: 10.1038/215852b0. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  3. Cawein M. J., Hewins J. False rise in serum uric acid after L-dopa. N Engl J Med. 1969 Dec 25;281(26):1489–1490. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  4. Cotzias G. C., Papavasiliou P. S. Blocking the negative effects of pyridoxine on patients receiving levodopa. JAMA. 1971 Mar 1;215(9):1504–1505. doi: 10.1001/jama.1971.03180220084025. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  5. Cotzias G. C., Papavasiliou P. S., Gellene R. Modification of Parkinsonism--chronic treatment with L-dopa. N Engl J Med. 1969 Feb 13;280(7):337–345. doi: 10.1056/NEJM196902132800701. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  6. DEGKWITZ R., FROWEIN R., KULENKAMPFF C., MOHS U. [On the effects of L-dopa in man and their modification by reserpine, chlorpromazine, iproniazid and vitamin B6]. Klin Wochenschr. 1960 Feb 1;38:120–123. doi: 10.1007/BF02189076. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  7. Dunner D. L., Brodie H. K., Goodwin F. K. Plasma DOPA response to levodopa administration in man: effects of a peripheral decarboxylase inhibitor. Clin Pharmacol Ther. 1971 Mar-Apr;12(2):212–217. doi: 10.1002/cpt1971122part1212. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  8. Duvoisin R. C., Yahr M. D., Coté L. D. Pyridoxine reversal of L-dopa effects in Parkinsonism. Trans Am Neurol Assoc. 1969;94:81–84. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  9. Fehling C. Treatment of Parkinson's syndrome with L-dopa. A double blind study. Acta Neurol Scand. 1966;42(3):367–372. doi: 10.1111/j.1600-0404.1966.tb01188.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  10. Henning M. Interaction of DOPA decarboxylase inhibitors with the effect of alpha-methyldopa on blood pressure and tissue monoamines in rats. Acta Pharmacol Toxicol (Copenh) 1969;27(2):135–148. doi: 10.1111/j.1600-0773.1969.tb00501.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  11. Muenter M. D., Tyce G. M. L-dopa therapy of Parkinson's disease: plasma L-dopa concentration, therapeutic response, and side effects. Mayo Clin Proc. 1971 Apr;46(4):231–239. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  12. PORTER C. C., WATSON L. S., TITUS D. C., TOTARO J. A., BYER S. S. Inhibition of DOPA decarboxylase by the hydrazino analog of alpha-methylDOPA. Biochem Pharmacol. 1962 Nov;11:1067–1077. doi: 10.1016/0006-2952(62)90166-1. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  13. Parks L. C., Watanabe A. M., Kopin I. J. Prevention or reversal of levodopa-induced cardiac arrhythmias by decarboxylase inhibitors. Lancet. 1970 Nov 14;2(7681):1014–1015. doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(70)92818-7. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Articles from British Medical Journal are provided here courtesy of BMJ Publishing Group

RESOURCES