PARKINSON'S DISEASE TREATED WITH SINEMET OR MADOPAR

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Patients with Parkinson''s disease [92] not previously treated with l-dopa were considered as eligible for this triple-blind trial. Patients were allocated at random to treatment with either l-dopa + benserazide ratio 4:1 (Madopar) or l-dopa + carbidopa ratio 10:1 (Sinemet) using dosage schedules recommended by the manufacturers which they adhered to for 6 mo. Unless prohibitive side-effects occurred daily maximum dosages of 800 mg l-dopa + 200 mg benserazide, respectively, 1500 mg l-dopa + 150 mg carbidopa were obtained after 6 wk and 3 wk, respectively. The effect of the 2 schedules on the Parkinsonian symptoms were equal and appeared equally fast. The frequency of gastrointestinal side-effects and involuntary movements were significantly greater and more severe for Sinemet than for Madopar. These side effects are usually symptoms of l-dopa overdosing, but whether or not a different dosage schedule with Sinemet would have given fewer side-effects without concurrent lower efficacy remains open to speculation. The treatment schedules did not differ with regard to other side-effects and influence on blood pressure. Neither treatment influenced liver function, renal function and hematological parameters statistically.