Posted by Netch on October 12, 2007, at 13:00:40
In reply to Re: Why l-dopa doesn't cause..., posted by amigan on October 12, 2007, at 12:46:09
"Levodopa (L-dopa), the mainstay of treatment for idiopathic Parkinson’s disease (IPD), has a mild stimulant effect and may cause agitation, restlessness, and euphoria even in normal subjects. It is associated with a well documented withdrawal syndrome consisting of confusion, muscular pain, and rigidity. This can progress to involve symptoms comparable with neuroleptic malignant syndrome, including pyrexia and increased creatine kinase.1 There is now good evidence that L-dopa is addictive, and there are many case reports of patients with IPD who seek to increase their L-dopa dose to high levels because of psychological dependence rather than therapeutic benefit.2 The largest series of such patients3 suggested that L-dopa dependence results in paranoia, hypomania, hypersexuality, and euphoria associated with weight loss and severe dyskinesias. Many of the behavioural changes are similar to those seen in amphetamine or cocaine abusers and have been termed "hedonistic homeostatic dysregulation". "
poster:Netch
thread:788688
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20071009/msgs/788735.html