An overnight switch to ropinirole therapy in patients with Parkinson's disease. Short communication.
Patients with Parkinson's disease (n = 68) switched from pergolide or bromocriptine to ropinirole overnight (dose equivalence ratios 1:6 and 10:6, respectively). The activities of daily living score for the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS) was significantly improved 4 weeks after the bromocriptine-ropinirole switch. All other UPDRS scores, including that for the side-effect component, were not significantly different after either switch. Overnight switching may be a safe therapeutic approach that may reduce hospitalisation and related socio-economic costs.
Canesi
M
M
Parkinson Institute Milan, Istituti Clinici di Perfezionamento, Milan, Italy.
Antonini
A
A
Mariani
C B
CB
Tesei
S
S
Zecchinelli
A L
AL
Barichella
M
M
Pezzoli
G
G
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged; D000978:Antiparkinson Agents / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001971:Bromocriptine / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007211:Indoles / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000188:drug therapy*; D010479:Pergolide / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013810:Therapeutic Equivalency
D000978:Antiparkinson Agents; D007211:Indoles; C046649:ropinirole; D010479:Pergolide; D001971:Bromocriptine