The effect of L-DOPA was examined in 25 patients suffering from hemiplegia of cerebrovascular diseases. Before and after giving L-DOPA at dose levels of 1-3 g for one month, we checked the muscle strength, ROM and ADL (especially ability of gait and skill of the affected limb), sense, speech function of the patients with aphasia and dysrythmia by the Shuell-Sasanuma speech test, and mental faculties by the WAIS mental test.
Eight patients showed diminished tonus of the muscles of affected extremities. Four patients experienced moderate relief of dysesthetic pain in stiff muscles. Sensory examination did not reveal any improvement in their sensory disturbance. L-DOPA failed to show any discernible effect on aphasia or any usefulness in improving intellect. A patient with dysrythmia came to be able to speak clearly and smoothly.
Side effects were observed at dose levels over 1.25 g in some cases. The severe side effects were vomiting, weakness, and lack of volition.
In conclusion, L-DOPA did not show any remarkable effect on the treatment of hemiplegia, but eight patients with rigidity in their affected extremities showed subjective improvement in their disability at dose levels over lg.

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Blood levels were determined after oral administration of SCH 10304 in man. Five healthy male volunteers received a single dose of 300 mg, two divided doses of 150 mg each, or a single dose of 150 mg. Male and female patients with rheumatoid arthritis received two divided doses of 150 mg each.
The blood level reached a peak one or two hours after administration in subjects who received a single dose of 300 mg. The level was considerably lowered, but still detectable, six hours after administration.
Time of drug administration in relation to food intake (administration before, immediately after, and two hours after food intake) had no significant influence on blood level of SCH 10304 at the peak period and at four hours after administration.
No difference in blood levels of SCH 10304 were noted between the patients and the volunteers receiving similar doses of the drug. A single dose of 300 mg and two divided doses of 150 mg each showed no significant difference in the blood level of SCH 10304.
The recovery of the drug in the urine, over a period of 24 hours after administration, averaged 72.8% in four volunteers, two each from the 300 and 150 mg single dose groups.
The binding rate of the drug with plasma protein was very high and showed up to 97%, 4 hours after administration.

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