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In a message dated 10/23/99 2:59:48 AM Central Daylight Time, [log in to unmask] writes: << if the work that this class of med does [saving lovely levodopa from arterial ambush by those vile venous comt conspirators] is done in the bloodstream prior to arrival at the brain station why would either of them have to cross the blood brain barrier? anyway? >> Janet, On behalf of those maligned Catachol O Methyl Transferases,I afta say tat they are just doing their job, Ma'am. Why have one act within the BBB? In the normal brain, Monoamine oxidase and COMT are responsible for cleaning up left over dopamine. However, in the PD brain there is no excess. The idea behind inhibitors as PD therapy is preserving dopamine for use by the brain not capable of producing adequate supplies of its own. Dopamine in the synapse is sorta where "the rubber meets the road. " Avoiding breakdown in the extra BBB area would be helpful too, but not as helpful. I predict that entacapone will be the "weaker " of the two drugs. Best , WHH