Theophyllamine and the antiparkinsonian response to levodopa treatment

In an open preliminary study theophyllamine (theophylline-ethylenediamine) was administered to eight patients with idiopathic parkinsonism showing residual signs of parkinsonism though already in treatment with levodopa. Although theophyllamine in preclinical studies was found effective in potentiating the response to central dopamine stimulation, the drug in the present clinical study was without effect on idiopathic parkinsonism. After a loading dose of aminophylline, 5.6 mg per kilogram given intravenously, a maintenance dose of 0.9 mg per kilogram per hour infused during 2 h resulted in serum levels of theophylline of 23.5 +/- 3.9 mg per liter. 3-methyl-xanthine, a pharmacodynamic active metabolite of theophylline was analyzed in the serum samples. Less than 0.5 mg per liter was found.