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We converted 158 Parkinson's disease(PD)patients on stable doses of standard carbidopa/levodopa(Std-L)to controlled-release carbidopa/levodopa (L-CR).Of the 141 patients who completed the study,103(73%)preferred L-CR, 26(18.5%)preferred Std-L,and 12(8.5%)had no preference.One hundred fourteen patients elected to continue L-CR,and we performed the primary data analysis on this group.Following conversion to L-CR,patients reported an increase in length of benefit from each dose and an increased"kick-in" time.There was a decrease in the total number of doses,"off"periods,sleep interruptions per night,dose failures,and sleep disturbances.Conversion to L-CR resulted in a significant increase in total levodopa dose.There was no significant change in the dyskinesias.However,early-morning dystonia resolved in eight of 14 patients.Our findings suggest that L-CR is particularly effective in decreasing motor fluctuations,reducing nocturnal problems,and minimizing levodopa dose failures in PD. |
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