Duodopa® is a viscous L-dopa suspension administered to patients affected by Parkinson’s disease with highly fluctuating motor function. A pump and tube administer the medicine directly into the duodenum (the upper part of the small intestine).
The tube consists of a PEG, attached to the inside of the stomach, and an inner tube. The inner tube is inserted into the stomach through the PEG, passes through the pylorus and ends in the duodenum (see picture).
The treatment supersedes L-dopa tablet therapy and must be started in the morning and stopped in the evening (usually continuing between 06:00 and 22:00).
