A new study has found that a powdered version of the Parkinson’s medication levodopa can help to reduce symptoms in between regular pill doses.
Levodopa works by helping to control rigidity, tremors, coordination, and balance in patients with Parkinson’s disease. Many patients experience periods of uncontrolled motor skills in between doses after a couple years of taking the drug. These “off periods” increase in frequency as the disease progresses, and are very disruptive for patients and their families.
The study, which was published in Science Translational Medicine tested the powdered version of levodopa in dogs and in humans: 18 of those with Parkinson’s disease, and 24 with Parkinson’s disease who reported having “off periods” during the day while taking levodopa pills. The researchers found that the inhaled version of the drug was more quickly absorbed into the bloodstream than the oral version, and the patients with Parkinson’s showed improved motor function.
The inhaled version of levodopa can be used in conjunction with the pill version. About 70 percent of Parkinson’s patients in the United States take levodopa.
The extent of the ways that inhaled levodopa can help motor function are still being studied, and more trails are needed before the version of the drug would be available for patients.
Parkinson’s Symptoms Can Be Helped With Powdered Version of Drug
Posted On: 10-14-2016
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