Abstract
Non-ergot dopamine agonists have become popular for treating motor complications associated with long-term use of levodopa-containing drugs. We conducted a retrospective study in which we identified clinical problems related to use of non-ergot dopamine agonists. The study included 38 patients with Parkinson’s disease (PD) who suffered the wearing-off phenomenon and had thus been under non-ergot dopamine receptor agonist therapy for 1 - 2 years. Some presented with problems such as major symptoms of PD (30.3%), psychiatric symptoms (24.2%), and postural dysfunction (21.2%). Comparison between two different non-ergot drugs showed the levodopa dosage to be greater among patients taking ropinirole than among those taking pramipexole. In patients with advanced PD, various problematic symptoms can develop early after administration of a non-ergot dopamine agonist to treat the wearing-off phenomenon, necessitating identification and treatment of such symptoms on a patient-to-patient basis.
Highlights
Long-term levodopa therapy is toxic to dopaminergic neurons [1]
We conducted a retrospective study in which we identified clinical problems related to use of non-ergot dopamine agonists
We conducted a retrospective study in which we examined clinical problems that developed 1 - 2 years after oral administration of a non-ergot dopamine agonist as treatment for the wearing-off phenomenon in patients with advanced Parkinson’s disease (PD)
Summary
As a countermeasure to the wearing-off phenomenon seen in patients with advanced Parkinson’s disease (PD), non-ergot dopamine agonists are widely used, and this has delayed the appearance of motor complications [2] [3] [4]. The D3 receptor family has been implicated in drug-induced involuntary movements such as dyskinesia [6], and members might play a role in the improvement in motor function, but the significance of D3 receptor stimulation remains unclear. We conducted a retrospective study in which we examined clinical problems that developed 1 - 2 years after oral administration of a non-ergot dopamine agonist (pramipexole or ropinirole) as treatment for the wearing-off phenomenon in patients with advanced PD
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