Modification of function in head-injured patients with Sinemet.

The effects of Sinemet (levodopa + carbidopa) on 12 patients with head injury with diffuse brain damage were evaluated. All patients had suffered moderate to severe traumatic brain injury resulting in physical, cognitive, communicative, emotional and behavioural deficits. All patients had plateaued in their rehabilitation programmes for more than 2 weeks before initiation of Sinemet. All patients showed functional cognitive and behavioural improvement with Sinemet. The degree of improvement appears to depend on the pre-treatment condition and the time between injury and treatment. Larger controlled studies are recommended.