Levodopa

Editorials1 November 1971LevodopaMANFRED D. MUENTER, M.D.MANFRED D. MUENTER, M.D.Author, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-75-5-795 SectionsAboutPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail ExcerptBiochemical discoveries concerning the role and localization of dopamine in the central nervous system led to the use of levodopa therapy for Parkinson's disease. These discoveries now are generally recognized as representing a major and exciting advance in the understanding of neurologic illness. The clinical success of levodopa therapy has been a forceful stimulus to further biochemical investigations of neurologic diseases.The article by Lee, Sweet, and McDowell* in this issue summarizes a 2-year experience with levodopa therapy, and few would disagree with the reported clinical observations or with most of the conclusions. Several points should be emphasized.Tremor is...References1. MUENTERTYCE MG: L-dopa therapy of Parkinson's disease: plasma L-dopa concentration, therapeutic response, and side effects. Mayo Clin Proc 46:231-239, 1971 MedlineGoogle Scholar2. ANDÉNCARLSSONKERSTELL NAJ: Oral L-dopa treatment of parkinsonism. Acta Med Scand 187:247-255, 1970 CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar3. BARBEAU A: Long-term side-effects of levodopa. Lancet 1: 395, 1971 CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar4. MUENTER M: Double-blind, placebo-controlled study of levodopa therapy in Parkinson's disease. Neurology (Minneap) 20:6-13, 1970 CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar5. RINNESONNINENHYYPPÄ UVM: Effect of L-dopa on brain monoamines and their metabolites in Parkinson's disease. Life Sci [I] 10:549-557, 1971 CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar6. SOURKES T: Possible new metabolites mediating actions of L-dopa. Nature (Lond) 229:413-414, 1971 CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar7. WALSHDAVISYAMANAKA MVY: Tetrahydropapaveroline: an alkaloid metabolite of dopamine in vitro. J Pharmacol Exp Ther 174:388-400, 1970 MedlineGoogle Scholar8. GAUTHIERAJURIAGUERRAGEISSBUHLER GJF: Thérapeutique substitutive des syndromes de Parkinson: L-dope, L-dopa + inhibiteur de la décarboxylase périphérique ou 3-O-méthyl dopa? Presse Med 79:91-92, 1971 MedlineGoogle Scholar9. COTZIASDÜBYGINOS GSJ: Dopamine analogues for studies of parkinsonism. N Engl J Med 283:1289, 1970 CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar10. COTZIASPAPAVASILIOU GP: Blocking the negative effects of pyridoxine on patients receiving levodopa. JAMA 215: 1504-1505, 1971 CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar11. COTZIASTANGGINOS GLJ: Block of cerebral actions of L-dopa with methyl receptor substances. Nature (Lond) 231:533-534, 1971 CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar12. SCATTONCHERAMYBESSON BAM: Increased synthesis and release of dopamine in the striatum of the rat after amantadine treatment. Eur J Pharmacol 13:131-133, 1970 CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar This content is PDF only. To continue reading please click on the PDF icon. Author, Article, and Disclosure InformationAffiliations: *Ann Intern Med 75:703-708, 1971. PreviousarticleNextarticle Advertisement FiguresReferencesRelatedDetails Metrics Cited byEffects of Adrenergic Activators and Inhibitors on the Skeletal MusclesPERIPHERAL MUSCLE EFFECTS OF LEVODOPA IN THE ANAESTHETIZED CATACTIONS OF TETRAHYDROPAPAVEROLINE ON THE CARDIOVASCULAR SYSTEM AND SKELETAL MUSCLES OF THE ANAESTHETIZED CAT AND ON GUINEA-PIG SOLEUS MUSCLE IN VITROTetrahydroisoquinoline Alkaloids: in vivo Metabolites of L-Dopa in Man 1 November 1971Volume 75, Issue 5Page: 795-797KeywordsCentral nervous systemDopamineLevodopaParkinson disease ePublished: 1 December 2008 Issue Published: 1 November 1971 PDF downloadLoading ...