Methods for treating parkinson's disease

Abstract

The efficacy of levodopa therapy in patients being treated for Parkinson's disease is enhanced by administering high doses of a partial glycine agonist. The frequency and severity of levodopa-induced side effects in Parkinson's disease patients are also reduced by administration of a partial glycine agonist.

1 - 15 . (canceled)  
   
   
       16 . A method for increasing the therapeutic index of levodopa in a subject being treated for Parkinson's disease, comprising administering to the subject levodopa and a partial glycine agonist in a dose effective to enhance efficacy of the levodopa or to reduce frequency or severity of side effects of the levodopa.  
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the partial glycine agonist comprises D-cycloserine or 1-aminocyclopropanecarboxylic acid.  
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the partial glycine agonist is D-cycloserine.  
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising administering a peripheral dopa decarboxylase inhibitor to the subject.  
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the peripheral dopa decarboxylase inhibitor is carbidopa or benserazide.  
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein each dose of partial glycine agonist is sufficient to deliver at least 8 mg of partial glycine agonist per kg body weight of the subject.  
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein each dose of partial glycine agonist is sufficient to deliver greater than 1 mg to 12 mg of partial glycine agonist per kg body weight of the subject.  
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the levodopa and partial glycine agonist are administered simultaneously.  
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the levodopa and partial glycine agonist are administered in a single pharmaceutical composition.  
   
   
       25 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the levodopa or partial glycine agonist is administered enterally.  
   
   
       26 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the levodopa or partial glycine agonist is administered parenterally.  
   
   
       27 . (not entered)  
   
   
       28 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the levodopa and partial glycine agonist are administered orally.  
   
   
       29 - 42 . (canceled)  
   
   
       43 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the dose of partial glycine agonist is sufficient to produce a concentration thereof in the brain of the subject at which antagonism of the glycine binding site of the NMDA receptor occurs.  
   
   
       44 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein each dose of partial glycine agonist is sufficient to deliver greater than 1 mg of partial glycine agonist per kg body weight of the subject.  
   
   
       45 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the levodopa, the peripheral dopa decarboxylase inhibitor and the partial glycine agonist are administered in a single pharmaceutical composition.  
   
   
       46 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the levodopa, the peripheral dopa decarboxylase inhibitor and the partial glycine agonist are administered enterally.  
   
   
       47 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the levodopa, the peripheral dopa decarboxylase inhibitor and the partial glycine agonist are administered parenterally.  
   
   
       48 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the levodopa, the peripheral dopa decarboxylase inhibitor and the partial glycine agonist are administered orally.