[Preparation of a levodopa/carbidopa solution in ascorbic acid (citridopa) and chromatographic and electrochemical assessment of its stability over 24 hours].

Levodopa/inhibitor improves motor function in parkinsonian patients. In its usual tablet form, however, its efficacy is reduced after several years, partially due to absorption deficiencies and changes in plasma kinetics; thus, other therapeutic strategies to provide a stable, easy to prepare formula are being sought. One such approach could be to dissolve L-dopa/carbidopa in ascorbic acid. This report describes the preparation method and demonstrates the stability of the sample using High pressure liquid cromatography (HPLC) with electrochemical detection. Regardless of the number of tablets the patient takes, the concentration of L-dopa/carbidopa/ascorbic acid remains constant (1/0.25/2 mg/ml). Thus, a patient taking 5 tablets of Sinemet Plus a day, would pulverize them in a glass, ceramic or marble mortar and add them to a measuring cup containing a 1 gram tablet of vitamin C (Redoxon) dissolved in 500 cc of cold water. This would be shaken or stirred until the Sinemet powder had dissolved. A few particles remaining in suspension after this process would be of no concern. The liquid would be stored in the refrigerator in an opaque or aluminum foil-covered glass bottle or, if possible, in several small dose-size vials. Using a measuring cup, a test tube and a syringe, the correct volume can be drawn out of the bottle and shaken well before drinking. The solution would be taken at regular intervals throughout the day (which vary from one patient to another) to maintain stable plasma L-dopa levels.