Background: Levodopa is the most effective symptomatic treatment throughout the course of Parkinson's disease, but as the disease progresses, there may be a need for individualized, fine-tuned treatments.
Aim: To evaluate individualized levodopa/carbidopa dosing using microtablets dispensed with a dose dispenser, with respect to efficacy and usability as perceived by patients.
Methods: Patient records and dose dispenser reports from patients previously or currently treated with microtablets and a dose dispenser were reviewed, and a patient questionnaire concerning effect and usability was sent to patients.
Results: Eleven patient records, four dose dispenser reports and nine survey responses were obtained. The treatment effect was considered to be improved by six of nine patients. One-third found their bradykinesia to be improved, and the non-troublesome dyskinesia was unchanged according to a majority of patients; however, some experienced the duration and magnitude of troublesome dyskinesia to be worse. The usability was generally rated as good. The four dose dispenser reports obtained showed 97(±5)% total adherence.
Conclusions: The experienced effect of treatment can, for some patients, be improved by the use of microtablets, and the dose dispenser was considered user-friendly. Further studies with a larger study population and prospective design are needed to confirm the results.
Keywords: Parkinson's disease; carbidopa; dose dispenser; levodopa; microtablets; pharmacotherapy.
© 2017 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.