Inhaled levodopa for intermittent treatment of OFF episodes in patients with Parkinson's disease.

Inhaled levodopa for intermittent treatment of OFF episodes in patients with Parkinson's disease. Expert Rev Clin Pharmacol. 2020 Feb 03;: Authors: Simões RM, Castro Caldas A, Ferreira JJ Abstract Introduction: Many patients with advanced Parkinson's disease (PD) have inadequate control of motor symptoms despite optimized treatment. Predictable and unpredictable OFF periods severely interfere with quality of life. A drug that easily and rapidly reverts the OFF state is still needed. Subcutaneous apomorphine, the only approved drug for this indication, although efficacious, is not widely used probably due to its potential side effects and complicated administration.Levodopa is the most efficacious drug for the treatment of PD motor symptoms. However, issues related to the oral route and intestinal absorption in later disease stages render this route lengthy and inefficacious.Areas Covered: Literature on the development of an inhaled formulation of levodopa has been reviewed. Significant advances in the field of pulmonary delivery systems and in dry powders have enabled the development of a new formulation of levodopa that can be inhaled and adequate blood levels rapidly achieved, bypassing intestinal absorption. Several clinical trials have reported efficacy, safety, and tolerability data. Some pulmonary-related adverse events have been reported but are mostly mild.Expert Opinion: This new way of administering levodopa is likely to b...
Source: Pharmacological Reviews - Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Authors: Tags: Expert Rev Clin Pharmacol Source Type: research