HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text (PDF) Correspondence: Submit a response Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when Correspondence are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Evans, M. A. Articles by Paull, P. D. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Evans, M. A. Articles by Paull, P. D.

Gastric emptying rate and the systemic availability of levodopa in the elderly parkinsonian patient

Department of Pharmacy (Mr. Evans), University of Sydney, New South Wales, the Department of Neurology (Drs. Broe and Crrasey), Lidcombe Hospital, Lidcombe, New South Wales, the Department of Pharmacy (Dr. Triggs), University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, the Department of Nuclear Medicine (Dr. Cheung), Liverpool Hospital, Liverpool, New South Wales, and the Department of Clinical Pharmacology (Mr. Paull), St. Vincent's Hospital, Darlinghurst, New South Wales, Australia.

The gastric emptying rate and systemic availability of levodopa, administered as a single oral dose, was studied in six elderly parkinsonian patients, five elderly nonparkinsonian subjects, and six young healthy volunteers. In both elderly groups, gastric emptying was slowed relative to the young healthy volunteers. The lack of significant differences in the plasma elimination half-life of levodopa among the three groups was accompanied by increased absorption of the drug in the elderly patient groups. These findings are discussed in relation to a possible age-related alteration in the activity of peripheral dopa decarboxylase in the elderly parkinsonian patients.

Address correspondence and reprint requests to M.A. Evans, Department of Pharmacy, University of Sydney, New South Wales, 2006, Australia.

Accepted for publication January 9, 1981.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				A. J. McLean and D. G. Le Couteur Aging Biology and Geriatric Clinical Pharmacology Pharmacol. Rev., June 1, 2004; 56(2): 163 - 184. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. L. Juncos, G. Fabbrini, M. M. Mouradian, and T. N. Chase Controlled Release Levodopa-Carbidopa (CR-5) in the Management of Parkinsonian Motor Fluctuations Arch Neurol, October 1, 1987; 44(10): 1010 - 1012. [Abstract] [PDF]