A controlled study of L-DOPA in Parkinson's disease

A small group of patients with Parkinson's disease were treated with oral l-dopa. In ten cases the drug was given according to a randomized, double-blind-crossover protocol, and in 13 cases both the physician and the patient knew what treatment was being given. With subjective bias at a minimum the salutary effects of the amino acid were confirmed in 90 percent of the patients. The general level of improvement with l-dopa was better than with standard agents, and a combination of drugs was sometimes very helpful. Toxic psychosis was a problem in three cases, but other adverse reactions were minimal. Further extensive trial and study is indicated.