title: Bromocriptine: low-dose therapy in Parkinson disease.
abstract: In a double-blind trial with a placebo phase, low-dose bromocriptine therapy (average dose, 15 mg per day) produced a significant improvement in 25 idiopathic parkinsonian patients. Tremor and bradykinesia were equally and significantly improved in both the levodopa-treated and the de novo patients. Rigidity was most improved in the levodopa-treated subjects. Age was not a factor in determining the dose of bromocriptine or the degree of improvement. Adverse effects occurred in 30% but were mild and dose-dependent. Four subjects, unable to tolerate initial doses of bromocriptine, withdrew from the trial. A low initial dose (1 mg per day) and slow escalation in dosage produced an optimal, though delayed improvement. Low-dose bromocriptine therapy is effective, does not induce significant dyskinesia nor on-off phenomenon, and is probably an alternative to levodopa as a drug of first choice in Parkinson disease.
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001971:Bromocriptine / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004409:Dyskinesia, Drug-Induced / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007980:Levodopa / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000188:drug therapy*; D010919:Placebos; D014202:Tremor / Q000188:drug therapy
chemical_list: D010919:Placebos; D001971:Bromocriptine; D007980:Levodopa