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Barriers to Levodopa Use in Parkinson Disease

Panelists discuss how pharmacokinetic challenges with oral levodopa formulations have led to the development of levodopa-based continuous subcutaneous infusion therapy as a less invasive and more personalized approach.

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Advancements in Levodopa-Based Continuous Subcutaneous Infusion Therapy: Executive Summary for Physicians

Pharmacokinetic Challenges With Oral Levodopa

Oral levodopa formulations face several pharmacokinetic limitations that have necessitated the development of subcutaneous delivery options:

  • Short half-life: Levodopa’s 1- to 2-hour plasma half-life necessitates frequent dosing
  • Erratic gastric emptying: Variable absorption due to unpredictable gastric transit
  • Competition with dietary amino acids for intestinal and blood-brain barrier transport
  • Narrow therapeutic window: Small range between efficacy and adverse effects
  • OFF periods: Declining plasma levels between doses lead to symptom reemergence
  • Pulsatile stimulation: Nonphysiological dopamine receptor stimulation contributes to motor complications
  • Advanced disease complications: Gastric dysmotility increases as disease progresses

Benefits of Continuous Subcutaneous Infusion

The subcutaneous route addresses these challenges by:

  • Providing stable plasma levodopa concentrations
  • Bypassing gastrointestinal absorption issues
  • Reducing motor fluctuations and OFF periods
  • Enabling more precise, individualized dosing
  • Offering a less invasive alternative to surgical interventions

These advancements allow for more personalized treatment approaches that can significantly improve quality of life for patients experiencing motor symptoms.

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