Optimum symptomatic control of Parkinson's disease with dopaminergic therapy.

Abstract

This paper presents a review of the literature on the therapeutic action and the side effects of the two main dopaminergic agents: L-DOPA/decarboxylase inhibitor (L-DOPA/DI) and bromocriptine (Parlodel used either as monotherapy or in combination in patients with Parkinson's disease. The combination of L-DOPA/DI and bromocriptine gives the best therapeutic efficacy (49% improvement) in the total score (bradykinesia, rigidity and tremor). However, treatment by monotherapy or combination gives the same pattern of activity: greatest improvement in tremor, followed by rigidity and bradykinesia. Improvement observed in the short term is not sustained over longer periods of time for monotherapy with either drug. The short-term side effects are similar for each treatment, whereas long-term complications (dyskinesia, end-of-dose deterioration and on-off phenomenon) appear only when levodopa is used, alone (high incidence) or in combination with bromocriptine (low incidence). The overall optimum treatment is obtained with a combination of L-DOPA/DI and bromocriptine.

• Authors: S Bouchard
• Journal: The Canadian journal of neurological sciences. Le journal canadien des sciences neurologiques (Can J Neurol Sci) Vol. 14 Issue 3 Suppl Pg. 460-5 (Aug 1987) ISSN: 0317-1671 [Print] England
• PMID: 3676921 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Drug Combinations
• Bromocriptine
• Levodopa

Topics

• Aged
• Bromocriptine (administration & dosage, adverse effects, therapeutic use)
• Drug Combinations
• Humans
• Levodopa (administration & dosage, adverse effects, therapeutic use)
• Middle Aged
• Movement Disorders (etiology)
• Parkinson Disease (complications, drug therapy)
• Time Factors