Levodopa-induced dyskinesias are improved by fluoxetine.
We evaluated the severity of motor disability and dyskinesias in seven levodopa-responsive patients with Parkinson's disease after an acute challenge with the mixed dopamine agonist, apomorphine, before and after the administration of fluoxetine (20 mg twice per day) for 11 +/- 1 days. After fluoxetine treatment, there was a significant 47% improvement (p < 0.05) of apomorphine-induced dyskinesias without modification of parkinsonian motor disability. The dyskinesias were reduced predominantly in the lower limbs during the onset and disappearance of dystonic dyskinesias (onset- and end-of-dose dyskinesias) and in the upper limbs during choreic mid-dose dyskinesias. The results suggest that increased brain serotoninergic transmission with fluoxetine may reduce levodopa- or dopamine agonist-induced dyskinesias without aggravating parkinsonian motor disability.
D000978:Antiparkinson Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D001058:Apomorphine; D004409:Dyskinesia, Drug-Induced / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005473:Fluoxetine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D007980:Levodopa / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008875:Middle Aged
D000978:Antiparkinson Agents; D005473:Fluoxetine; D007980:Levodopa; D001058:Apomorphine