| Abstract | 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. |
| Authors | V V Myllylä, K A Sotaniemi, J A Vuorinen, E H Heinonen
(Affiliation: Department of Neurology, University of Oulu, Finland.)
|
| Journal | Movement disorders : official journal of the Movement Disorder Society
(Mov Disord)
Vol. 8 Suppl 1
Pg. S41-4
( 1993)
ISSN: 0885-3185 UNITED STATES |
| PMID | 8302307
(Publication Type: Clinical Trial, Journal Article, Randomized Controlled Trial)
|
| Chemical References |
|
| Topics |
- Activities of Daily Living
- Aged
- Double-Blind Method
- Drug Therapy, Combination
- Female
- Finland
- Follow-Up Studies
- Humans
- Levodopa
(therapeutic use)
- Male
- Middle Aged
- Neurologic Examination
- Parkinson Disease
(drug therapy)
- Selegiline
(therapeutic use)
|
