Question

Levodopa, a drug used in the treatment of Parkinson’s disease, has a small initial dose followed by a steady increase over several days. Suppose a patient is given three doses a day. Each administration is 250 mg on the first day, and is increased by 250 mg every fourth day. The maintenance dose is reached after 28 days.

Calculate the initial and final daily doses of levodopa administered to the patient.

Answer 1

levodopa, a drug used in the treatment of Parkinson’s disease.

Each administration is 250 mg on the first day and is increased by 250 mg every fourth day.

Then on 28th, the dose will increase 8 times, means it become 2g/dose

250mg x Stimes = 2000mg = 2g

the patient is given three doses a day

then the daily initial dose was 750mg. ()

250mg x 3times = 750mg

On the 28th day, the daily dose will be 6g/day. ()

29 x 3times = 6g/day

Answer - The initial daily dose was 750mg and final daily dose is 6g.