title: Highlights of the North American and European experiences.
abstract: Two large, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled multicenter studies, one North American and one European, examined the efficacy and safety of 300 and 600 mg/day tolcapone in similar populations of patients (n = 379) with Parkinson's disease currently taking levodopa and experiencing motor fluctuations. Change in "on-off" function was the most important end-point assessment. The two studies found similar results. The percentage of "on" time improved significantly and "off" time was reduced. Daily levodopa dosage requirements decreased significantly. The most common and significant adverse event was increased dyskinesia; hallucinations were not frequently encountered.
authors.affiliation: Rush University/Rush-Presbyterian St. Luke's Medical Center, Chicago, IL 60612, USA.
authors.forename: C G
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Goetz
mesh_terms: D000978:Antiparkinson Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001545:Benserazide / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001577:Benzophenones / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002230:Carbidopa / Q000627:therapeutic use; D065098:Catechol O-Methyltransferase Inhibitors; D015259:Dopamine Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004338:Drug Combinations; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005060:Europe; D006801:Humans; D007980:Levodopa / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009596:Nitrophenols; D009656:North America; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D000077867:Tolcapone
chemical_list: D000978:Antiparkinson Agents; D001577:Benzophenones; D065098:Catechol O-Methyltransferase Inhibitors; D015259:Dopamine Agents; D004338:Drug Combinations; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D009596:Nitrophenols; C005177:benserazide, levodopa drug combination; C009265:carbidopa, levodopa drug combination; D007980:Levodopa; D001545:Benserazide; D000077867:Tolcapone; D002230:Carbidopa