Deprenyl (selegiline) in the treatment of Parkinson's disease.
The effects of deprenyl were investigated in 45 parkinsonian patients suffering from fluctuations in disability under long-term levodopa treatment. During a 1 to 3 month period of treatment, 5-10 mg of deprenyl caused a significant reduction in response fluctuations in 26 out of 45 patients (58%). This improvement was only moderate (58%) or minimal (42%). Of 11 parkinsonian patients taking deprenyl with levodopa and benserazide for up to 4 years, 6 patients (55%) showed moderate and 5 patients (45%) minimal improvement initially. The improvement in response fluctuations was maintained during the follow-up period, although there was a clear decline in the degree of improvement. The addition of deprenyl to levodopa treatment also caused a further improvement in parkinsonian disability, which, however, decreased during the treatment period. Deprenyl appears to be a useful adjuvant to levodopa in patients with daily fluctuations in disability.
D000368:Aged; D004341:Drug Evaluation; 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 / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013997:Time Factors
D010627:Phenethylamines; D012642:Selegiline; D007980:Levodopa