New approaches in the use of selegiline for the treatment of Parkinson's disease.
Selegiline hydrochloride (deprenyl) is a safe, useful adjuvant therapy in patients with Parkinson's disease treated with L-dopa. The optimum time for its introduction into the treatment regimen of a patient remains controversial. A multicentre long-term study being conducted by the Parkinson's Disease Research Group of the United Kingdom to attempt to answer whether selegiline improves the natural history of Parkinson's disease is discussed. In a separate study we have been unable to demonstrate that higher doses of selegiline (up to 40 mg a day) produce additional therapeutic benefit above the conventional dose of 10 mg a day in levodopa-treated patients with motor fluctuations. Preliminary data from a neuropsychological study is also presented which suggests that selegiline may have beneficial effects on the speed of psychomotor responses supporting the anecdotal clinical observations of increased mental energy and alacrity.
Lees
A J
AJ
Department of Neurology, Middlesex Hospital, London.
Frankel
J
J
Eatough
V
V
Stern
G M
GM
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007980:Levodopa / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D010627:Phenethylamines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012642:Selegiline / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D010627:Phenethylamines; D012642:Selegiline; D007980:Levodopa