TY - JOUR
T1 - Peripheral pharmacokinetics of levodopa in untreated, stable, and fluctuating parkinsonian patients
AU - Gancher, S. T.
AU - Nutt, J. G.
AU - Woodward, W. R.
PY - 1987/6
Y1 - 1987/6
N2 - We compared the pharmacokinetics of oral and IV infusions of levodopa in untreated, stable, and fluctuating patients pretreated with carbidopa. After oral dosing, mean peak plasma levodopa levels, time to peak level concentration after oral levodopa, and area under the curve were similar in all groups. Absorption was proportional to dose. Plasma elimination half-lives, clearance rates, and volumes of distribution after levodopa infusions were similar in all groups. 3–0-Methyldopa levels were similar in stable and fluctuating subjects. We conclude that the peripheral pharmacokinetics of levodopa do not differ between untreated, stable, and fluctuating patients, and that altered peripheral kinetics of the drug are unlikely to explain the development of the fluctuating state.
AB - We compared the pharmacokinetics of oral and IV infusions of levodopa in untreated, stable, and fluctuating patients pretreated with carbidopa. After oral dosing, mean peak plasma levodopa levels, time to peak level concentration after oral levodopa, and area under the curve were similar in all groups. Absorption was proportional to dose. Plasma elimination half-lives, clearance rates, and volumes of distribution after levodopa infusions were similar in all groups. 3–0-Methyldopa levels were similar in stable and fluctuating subjects. We conclude that the peripheral pharmacokinetics of levodopa do not differ between untreated, stable, and fluctuating patients, and that altered peripheral kinetics of the drug are unlikely to explain the development of the fluctuating state.
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U2 - 10.1212/wnl.37.6.940
DO - 10.1212/wnl.37.6.940
M3 - Article
C2 - 3587644
AN - SCOPUS:0023185154
SN - 0028-3878
VL - 37
SP - 940
EP - 944
JO - Neurology
JF - Neurology
IS - 6
ER -