Effervescent enteric coated L-dopa formulation and method of using the same

Claim 1

A pharmaceutical effervescent enteric-coated tablet for oral administration to a warm-blooded animal which permits release and absorption of L-DOPA in the area of the upper portion of the small intestine thereof comprising a tableted admixture of: a. a member selected from the group consisting of L-DOPA, 3,4-diacetyloxy-L-phenylalanine or a pharmaceutically acceptable acid addition salt thereof, 3,4-dipivalyloxy-L-phenylalanine or a pharmaceutically acceptable acid addition salt thereof, 3,4-dihydroxy-L-phenylalanine methyl ester or a pharmaceutically acceptable acid addition salt thereof, 3,4-diacetyloxy-L-phenylalanine methyl ester or a pharmaceutically acceptable acid addition salt thereof, 3,4-dihydroxy-L-phenylalanine benzyl ester or a pharmaceutically acceptable acid addition salt thereof, 3,4-diacetyloxy-L-phenylalanine benzyl ester or a pharmaceutically acceptable acid addition salt thereof, glycyl-3,4-diacetyloxy-L-phenylalanine methyl ester or a pharmaceutically acceptable acid addition salt thereof, 3,4-dipivalyloxy-N(1-methyl-2-acetylvinyl)-L-phenylalanine pivalyloxy methyl ester, the alkali metal salt of 3,4-dipivalyloxy-N(1-methyl-2-acetylvinyl)-L-phenylalanine, the alkali metal salt of 3,4-diacetyloxy-N(1-methyl-2-acetylvinyl)-L-phenylalanine, N-formyl-3,4-dipivalyloxy-L-phenylalanine, N-formyl-3,4-dipivalyloxy-L-phenylalanine-pivalyloxymethyl ester, N-formyl-3,4-diacetyloxy-L-phenylalanine, the alkali metal salt of N-formyl-3,4-diacetyloxy-L-phenylalanine, glycyl-3,4-diacetyloxy-L-phenylalanine or a pharmaceutically acceptable acid addition salt thereof, 3,4-diacetyloxy-L-phenylalanylglycine or a pharmaceutically acceptable acid addition salt thereof, 3,4-dihydroxy-L-phenylalanyl-3,4-dihydroxy-L-phenylalanine or a pharmaceutically acceptable acid addition salt thereof, 3,4-diacetyloxy-L-phenylalanyl-3,4-diacetyloxy-L-phenylalanine methyl ester or a pharmaceutically acceptable acid addition salt thereof, and 3,4-diacetyloxy-L-phenylalanyl-3,4-diacetyloxy-L-phenylalanine benzyl ester or a pharmaceutically acceptable acid addition salt thereof, b. a non-toxic pharmaceutically acceptable inert diluent, c. a non-toxic pharmaceutically acceptable effervescent couple acid and base, and d. a non-toxic pharmaceutically acceptable enteric coating over said entire tableted admixture.