Selegiline (
L-deprenyl) has been recommended as an antiparkinsonian
drug to be used as an adjunct to
therapy with
L-dopa, if and when
L-dopa starts to lose its effect. However, initial
selegiline monotherapy followed by
L-dopa may be both effective and safe. A double-blind, placebo-controlled trial was carried out in previously untreated patients with
Parkinson's disease randomized to receive
selegiline (10 mg/day; 27 patients) or placebo (25 patients) until
L-dopa treatment became imperative. Three rating scales were used for assessment. The study design continues to be double-blind even after
L-dopa is introduced.
L-Dopa was needed after 545 +/- 90 days in the
selegiline group. This was significantly later (p = 0.03) than after placebo (372 +/- 28 days). Disability was less severe in the
selegiline group, and there were no serious adverse effects. A nearly twofold dose of
L-dopa was needed in the placebo group to achieve a sufficient
therapeutic effect during long-term treatment. These results show that
selegiline is safe and effective as monotherapy in early
parkinsonism. It delays the need for
L-dopa treatment and reduces the amount of daily
L-dopa required. This could be explained by either a symptomatic effect or neuroprotective efficacy or, more likely, a combination of both.