Comparative trial of benzhexol, amantadine, and levodopa in the treatment of Parkinson's disease.
Fourteen slightly disabled patients with Parkinsonism were treated separately with benzhexol, amantadine, and levodopa. Benzhexol and amantadine both gave a 15% reduction in functional disability and levodopa a 36% reduction. Benzhexol lessened the rigidity and improved the flexion of posture of Parkinson's disease, but had little or no effect on akinesia and tremor. Amantadine and levodopa caused improvement in all these symptoms. The combination of benzhexol and amantadine was as effective after four weeks of treatment as levodopa was after six months.
D000368:Aged; D000547:Amantadine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000139:chemically induced; D004295:Dihydroxyphenylalanine / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D004487:Edema / Q000139:chemically induced; D005133:Eye Movements; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009069:Movement Disorders / Q000139:chemically induced; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000188:drug therapy*; D010301:Parkinson Disease, Postencephalitic / Q000188:drug therapy; D014282:Trihexyphenidyl / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014987:Xerostomia / Q000139:chemically induced
D004295:Dihydroxyphenylalanine; D014282:Trihexyphenidyl; D000547:Amantadine