Parkinson's Disease Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Parkinson's Disease, including details on symptoms, treatment, genetics, medication.

Effects of caffeine on levodopa pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics in Parkinson disease.

Deleu D, Jacob P, Chand P, Sarre S, Colwell A

Department of Neurology (Medicine), Sultan Qaboos University Hospital, Sultanate of Oman. doc_deleu@hotmail.com

The authors studied the acute effect of caffeine on the levodopa pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics in 12 patients with idiopathic Parkinson disease. This double-blind, randomized, crossover study revealed that caffeine shortened the maximal plasma concentration of levodopa, decreased the latency to levodopa walking and tapping motor response, and increased the magnitude of walking response. Caffeine administered before levodopa may improve its pharmacokinetics in some parkinsonian patients.

Published 12 September 2006 in Neurology, 67(5): 897-9.
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