Beta 2-adrenergic agonist as adjunct therapy to levodopa in Parkinson's disease.
We studied the effect of the beta 2-adrenergic agonist albuterol on Parkinson's disease (PD) patients receiving chronic levodopa treatment. The albuterol-treated patients demonstrated reduced parkinsonian symptoms and an increased ability to tap their index finger between two points 20 cm apart, and were able to perform a "walk test" in 70% of their control time. Three patients currently on chronic albuterol therapy still show amelioration of their parkinsonian symptoms, and two have reduced their daily levodopa dose. This study suggests that beta 2-adrenergic agonists as adjunct therapy to levodopa may be beneficial in PD.
Alexander
G M
GM
Department of Neurology, Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, PA 19107.
Schwartzman
R J
RJ
Nukes
T A
TA
Grothusen
J R
JR
Hooker
M D
MD
D000368:Aged; D000420:Albuterol / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D006801:Humans; D007980:Levodopa / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000188:drug therapy*
D007980:Levodopa; D000420:Albuterol