Levodopa dependence and abuse
in Parkinson's disease
by
Spigset O; von Schéele C
Division of Clinical Pharmacology,
Norrland University Hospital, UmeÁa, Sweden.
Pharmacotherapy, 1997 Sep, 17:5, 1027-30

ABSTRACT

Two patients with Parkinson's disease repeatedly increased their levodopa dosage on their own to 1500-2000 mg/day to reach and sustain a state of euphoria, regardless of the fact that dosages of 400-800 mg/day were sufficient to suppress their parkinsonian symptoms. Both were markedly unwilling to consent to recommendations of dosage reductions, and they readily accepted adverse effects such as hyperkinesias, anorexia, and hallucinations to achieve the positive mental effects. Thus, both patients fulfilled the diagnostic criteria for substance dependence.

L-dopa
Sinemet
Selegiline
Tolcapone
Cabergoline
Bromocriptine
Levodopa toxicity
Selegiline and cocaine
The dopamine transporter
Mucuna Pruriens and l-dopa
Dopamine and sexual function
Advanced Parkinson's disease
Parkinson's disease: resources
Selegiline and Parkinson's disease
Hedonistic homeostatic dysregulation
L-dopa in the treatment of Parkinson's disease
COMT inhibitors plus l-dopa/carbidopa for depression
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