Harbinger of storm: influence of Oliver Sacks on levodopa therapy in early 1970s

• Published in: Arquivos de neuro-psiquiatria Vol. 74; no. 8; pp. 687 - 689
• Main Authors: Santos-Lobato, Bruno Lopes dos, Tumas, Vitor
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Rua do Matoso 170, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, CEP 20270-135, Brazil Thieme Revinter Publicações Ltda 01-08-2016; Academia Brasileira de Neurologia - ABNEURO; Academia Brasileira de Neurologia (ABNEURO)
• Subjects: Antiparkinson Agents - adverse effects; Antiparkinson Agents - history; Antiparkinson Agents - therapeutic use; discinesias; doença de Parkinson; HISTORICAL NOTES; History, 20th Century; levodopa; Levodopa - adverse effects; Levodopa - history; Levodopa - therapeutic use; Neurology - history; NEUROSCIENCES; Oliver Sacks; Parkinson Disease - drug therapy; Parkinson Disease - history; PSYCHIATRY; Sacks; Oliver Sacks; dyskinesias; doença de Parkinson; discinesias; levodopa; Parkinson’s disease
• ISSN: 0004-282X; 1678-4227; 1678-4227; 0004-282X
• DOI: 10.1590/0004-282X20160095

ABSTRACT
Most known by his literary ability, the words of the neurologist Oliver Sacks (1933-2015) also had an impact on scientific community about the role of levodopa on parkinsonisms. Different from the most authors and based on his experience described on the book “Awakenings”, he had a pessimistic opinion about levodopa, which was related on many articles written by himself and colleagues in early 1970s. We reviewed the scientific contribution of Oliver Sacks associated to levodopa therapy on parkinsonisms, and how he advised caution with its complications before the majority of physicians.