L-dopa in depot form (Madopark Depot and Sinemet Depot) can also be taken during the day. The so-called bioavailability is lower compared with ‘standard’ tablets, which means that not 100 mg reaches the brain, but only about 75 per cent. The rise and fall in concentration are slightly slower than with standard tablets, and therefore the depot formulations may feel a little ‘slower-acting’ and more difficult to manage when you want to adjust the dose. It is possible to combine standard tablets and sustained-release tablets, but in that case the doctor needs to ensure that the total dose does not become too high. /Dag Nyholm
