Cabergoline in Parkinson's disease: long-term follow-up.
We treated 36 patients with motor fluctuations and dyskinesias on chronic levodopa therapy with cabergoline (CBG) once a day for a mean period of 14.2 +/- 5.8 months. There was a significant increase in the "on" hours and a reduction in "off-period" dystonia. Ten patients continued to show a marked improvement after 28.3 months of treatment (mean dose, 11.3 +/- 4.5 mg). In 23 patients, increased dyskinesias (daily CBG dose, 11 +/- 4.3 mg) had complicated the positive effect after 17.2 +/- 4.8 months. Three patients (daily CBG dose, 14.3 mg) were therapeutic failures, and administration of CBG was stopped. Side effects leading to CBG discontinuation were visual hallucinations (n = 5), heart failure (n = 5), and nausea and vomiting (n = 1). Plasma CBG levels, measured in seven patients taking 3, 5, or 7 mg daily (po), showed fairly stable concentrations throughout the 24 hours. We concluded that CBG is an efficient dopamine agonist that can provide continuous dopaminergic stimulation when taken orally once a day.
Lera
G
G
Department of Neurology, University of Navarra, Pamplona, Spain.
Vaamonde
J
J
Rodriguez
M
M
Obeso
J A
JA
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000077465:Cabergoline; D015259:Dopamine Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D004873:Ergolines / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000097:blood / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007980:Levodopa / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D015259:Dopamine Agents; D004873:Ergolines; D007980:Levodopa; D000077465:Cabergoline