The present invention provides methods of providing rapid relief of motor fluctuations in a Parkinson s disease patient. The methods of the invention comprise pulmonary administration of levodopa by inhalation at therapeutically effective concentrations such that the patient s plasma levodopa concentration increases by at least about 200 ng/ml within 10 minutes or less post inhalation as compared to the concentration of levodopa in the patient s plasma prior to inhalation of the levodopa and wherein the patient s plasma concentration remains increased by at least about 200 ng/ml for a time period of at least 15 minutes after inhalation. The methods of the invention are particularly useful for treatment of motor fluctuations which arise as a result of poorly controlled levodopa plasma levels in a patient.
