The Human Experience with Intravenous Levodopa.
Level 5 - mechanism / opinion, no new human data
Narrative review synthesizing historical literature and heterogeneous clinical reports
PubMed 26779024 · doi:10.3389/fphar.2015.00307
What was done
Authors searched and evaluated over 200 published articles on intravenous (IV) levodopa administration in humans from 1959 onward to synthesize safety, pharmacokinetic, and efficacy data relevant to regulatory oversight. Data were compiled across healthy individuals and clinical populations, with pharmacokinetic variables specifically summarized for 49 healthy participants and 190 individuals with Parkinson's disease.
What was found
The review identified 142 original reports encompassing at least 2,760 human subjects who received IV levodopa. Evaluated endpoints included parkinsonian signs, sleep variables, hormone levels, hemodynamics, cerebrospinal fluid amino acid composition, regional cerebral blood flow, cognition, perception, and complex behavior. Observed adverse events matched expected profiles from oral levodopa and dopamine agonists, with zero reports of death or induced psychosis.
Why it matters
This review compiles five decades of clinical safety data to support investigational new drug (IND) applications and regulatory approvals for IV levodopa delivery in clinical research.
Limits
The findings are derived from a narrative review of heterogeneous historical studies spanning over 50 years, including early work predating peripheral decarboxylase inhibitors. The abstract provides no pooled effect estimates, quantitative incidence rates for specific adverse events, or formal risk-of-bias evaluations.
Cited by
- contradicts Administering L-dopa to healthy individuals without Parkinson's disease or schizophrenia at sufficient doses can induce hallucinations and paranoia.