Long-term effectiveness of levodopa in Parkinson’s disease

This study investigated the long-term effectiveness of levodopa in patients with advanced Parkinson's disease (PD). Researchers suggested that levodopa is associated with improved outcomes even after 16 years of disease duration.

PD is associated with the death of brain cells. The ability controlled by these cells is lost causing symptoms such as muscle weakness or tremors. The standard treatment is levodopa. However, long-term levodopa is associated with negative side effects. As the care of patients with PD has improved, advanced PD cases are likely going to increase. Therefore, it is important to understand the role of levodopa in these patients.

This study included information about 361 patients with PD. Patients were divided into 4 different groups according to the duration of the disease. Group 1 was between 0 and 5 years, group 2 – between 6 and 10 years, group 3 – between 11 and 15 years and group 4 had 16 years or more of disease duration.

There was a significant improvement in movement and activities of daily life after treatment with levodopa in all groups. Patients with the shortest duration of the disease had the smallest improvements compared to the other groups.

This study concluded that levodopa effectiveness is preserved on the long-term.

This study did not include patients with severe mental symptoms.