Catechol-O-methyltransferase inhibitor tolcapone prolongs levodopa/carbidopa action in parkinsonian patients. 1993

J W Roberts, and G Cora-Locatelli, and D Bravi, and M A Amantea, and M M Mouradian, and T N Chase
Experimental Therapeutics Branch, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892.

The wearing-off phenomenon frequently complicates levodopa therapy of Parkinson's disease (PD). These response fluctuations appear when intrasynaptic dopamine concentrations begin to reflect the swings in levodopa availability that attend standard dosing regimens. Drugs that prolong the biologic half-life of levodopa and dopamine should thus prove beneficial. We administered levodopa/carbidopa in combination with single oral doses of tolcapone (Ro 40-7592), an inhibitor of catechol-O-methyltransferase, under controlled conditions to 10 PD patients with the wearing-off phenomenon. Tolcapone prolonged the antiparkinson response to levodopa/carbidopa by about 67% at several doses ranging from 50 to 400 mg (p < 0.05). There was no significant change in the peak levodopa effect on parkinsonian signs or in the severity of dyskinesias. No dose-limiting adverse effects occurred. Multiple daily dosing with tolcapone would thus be expected to safely reduce the wearing-off phenomenon associated with levodopa/carbidopa therapy.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D007980 Levodopa The naturally occurring form of DIHYDROXYPHENYLALANINE and the immediate precursor of DOPAMINE. Unlike dopamine itself, it can be taken orally and crosses the blood-brain barrier. It is rapidly taken up by dopaminergic neurons and converted to DOPAMINE. It is used for the treatment of PARKINSONIAN DISORDERS and is usually given with agents that inhibit its conversion to dopamine outside of the central nervous system. L-Dopa,3-Hydroxy-L-tyrosine,Dopaflex,Dopar,L-3,4-Dihydroxyphenylalanine,Larodopa,Levopa,3 Hydroxy L tyrosine,L 3,4 Dihydroxyphenylalanine,L Dopa
D008875 Middle Aged An adult aged 45 - 64 years. Middle Age
D009596 Nitrophenols PHENOLS carrying nitro group substituents. Nitrophenol
D010302 Parkinson Disease, Secondary Conditions which feature clinical manifestations resembling primary Parkinson disease that are caused by a known or suspected condition. Examples include parkinsonism caused by vascular injury, drugs, trauma, toxin exposure, neoplasms, infections and degenerative or hereditary conditions. Clinical features may include bradykinesia, rigidity, parkinsonian gait, and masked facies. In general, tremor is less prominent in secondary parkinsonism than in the primary form. (From Joynt, Clinical Neurology, 1998, Ch38, pp39-42) Atherosclerotic Parkinsonism,Secondary Parkinsonism,Symptomatic Parkinson Disease,Parkinson Disease, Secondary Vascular,Parkinson Disease, Symptomatic,Parkinsonism, Secondary,Parkinsonism, Symptomatic,Secondary Vascular Parkinson Disease,Parkinsonism, Atherosclerotic,Secondary Parkinson Disease,Symptomatic Parkinsonism
D010919 Placebos Any dummy medication or treatment. Although placebos originally were medicinal preparations having no specific pharmacological activity against a targeted condition, the concept has been extended to include treatments or procedures, especially those administered to control groups in clinical trials in order to provide baseline measurements for the experimental protocol. Sham Treatment
D002230 Carbidopa An inhibitor of DOPA DECARBOXYLASE that prevents conversion of LEVODOPA to dopamine. It is used in PARKINSON DISEASE to reduce peripheral adverse effects of LEVODOPA. It has no anti-parkinson activity by itself. Methyldopahydrazine,Carbidopa, (R)-Isomer,Carbidopa, (S)-Isomer,Lodosin,Lodosyn,MK-485,MK-486,MK 485,MK 486,MK485,MK486
D004357 Drug Synergism The action of a drug in promoting or enhancing the effectiveness of another drug. Drug Potentiation,Drug Augmentation,Augmentation, Drug,Augmentations, Drug,Drug Augmentations,Drug Potentiations,Drug Synergisms,Potentiation, Drug,Potentiations, Drug,Synergism, Drug,Synergisms, Drug
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000077867 Tolcapone A benzophenone and nitrophenol compound that acts as an inhibitor of CATECHOL O-METHYLTRANSFERASE, an enzyme involved in the metabolism of DOPAMINE and LEVODOPA. It is used in the treatment of PARKINSON DISEASE in patients for whom levodopa is ineffective or contraindicated. 3,4-Dihydroxy-5'-methyl-5-nitrobenzophenone,Ro 40-7592,Ro-40-7592,SOM0226,Tasmar,3,4 Dihydroxy 5' methyl 5 nitrobenzophenone,Ro 40 7592,Ro 407592,Ro407592
D000293 Adolescent A person 13 to 18 years of age. Adolescence,Youth,Adolescents,Adolescents, Female,Adolescents, Male,Teenagers,Teens,Adolescent, Female,Adolescent, Male,Female Adolescent,Female Adolescents,Male Adolescent,Male Adolescents,Teen,Teenager,Youths

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