Clonidine in Parkinson disease.
Several theoretical considerations suggest that potentiation of central norepinephrine mechanisms may improve motor performance in patients with Parkinson disease receiving concurrent treatment with levodopa. Clonidine hydrochloride, an antihypertensive drug believed to directly stimulate brain norepinephrine receptors, was administered to a group of patients with relatively mild Parkinson disease and coexisting essential hypertension and to three patients with Parkinson disease manifesting the "on-off" response to levodopa. Although a significant antihypertensive effect was achieved, a change in parkinsonian disability could not be demonstrated.
D000368:Aged; D000978:Antiparkinson Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003000:Clonidine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000150:complications; D007980:Levodopa / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D010301:Parkinson Disease, Postencephalitic / Q000188:drug therapy
D000978:Antiparkinson Agents; D007980:Levodopa; D003000:Clonidine