LIQUID LEVODOPA CARBIDOPA PRODUCES SIGNIFICANT IMPROVEMENT IN MOTOR FUNCTION WITHOUT DYSKINESIA EXACERBATION/

We performed the first double-blind, crossover comparison between levo dopa/carbidopa (LD/CD) in optimized liquid versus tablet doses to meas ure plasma LD levels and relative effects on disabilities (motor funct ion, fluctuations, and dyskinesias) in patients with Parkinson's disea se. Twenty-three subjects with motor fluctuations were optimized with open-label LD/CD tablets and liquid. In a double-dummy design, patient s randomly received 2 weeks of liquid and 2 weeks of tablet LD/CD. Twi ce during each arm, we evaluated patients hourly 9 AM to 4 PM With the use of plasma LD levels, the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale , a dyskinesia rating scale, and ''on-off'' ratings. Patients receivin g liquid LD/CD ingested significantly higher doses and had significant ly improved motor function and total ''on'' time, without an increase in dyskinesia severity. The number of motor fluctuations in the two ph ases was not significantly different. LD levels and variability were a lso equivalent with the two formulations. At optimized dosing, liquid LD/CD offers a means to significantly improve motor disability in pati ents with Parkinson's disease without exacerbating dyskinesia.