The beneficial effect of donepezil on visual hallucinations in three patients with Parkinson's disease.

Abstract

Visual hallucinations (VHs) are common psychiatric symptoms in patients with long-standing Parkinson's disease (PD). Treatment with neuroleptics or withdrawal of anti-PD drugs may improve VHs but will worsen motor dysfunctions. The authors report on 3 patients with long-standing PD who were treated with the cholinesterase inhibitor donepezil for the treatment of VHs. Each received a daily dose of 5 mg of donepezil, after reducing or discontinuing anti-PD medications had failed to relieve the VHs. In 2 patients (patient 1, 2), donepezil decreased VHs without worsening motor dysfunctions. In addition, the cognitive status of patient 2 improved. In patient 3, donepezil also resolved VHs, but delusions developed during treatment. After discontinuing donepezil, delusions disappeared and VHs reappeared. Donepezil may ameliorate visual hallucinations in PD patients, but controlled, double-blind trials are necessary to further clarify the effect of this drug on VHs in PD.

• Authors: Akira Kurita, Yusuke Ochiai, Yu Kono, Masahiko Suzuki, Kiyoharu Inoue
• Journal: Journal of geriatric psychiatry and neurology (J Geriatr Psychiatry Neurol) Vol. 16 Issue 3 Pg. 184-8 (Sep 2003) ISSN: 0891-9887 [Print] United States
• PMID: 12967063 (Publication Type: Case Reports, Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Cholinesterase Inhibitors
• Indans
• Piperidines
• Donepezil

Topics

• Aged
• Aged, 80 and over
• Cholinesterase Inhibitors (therapeutic use)
• Cognition Disorders (diagnosis)
• Donepezil
• Female
• Hallucinations (drug therapy, etiology)
• Humans
• Indans (therapeutic use)
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Parkinson Disease (complications)
• Piperidines (therapeutic use)
• Psychomotor Disorders (diagnosis)
• Severity of Illness Index