title: The effect of amantadine on levodopa-induced dyskinesias in Parkinson's disease: a double-blind, placebo-controlled study.
abstract: We performed a double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover study to assess the effect of amantadine versus placebo on levodopa-induced dyskinesias in Parkinson's disease. We found a 24% reduction in the total dyskinesia score after amantadine administration (p = 0.004). This improvement was achieved without any influence on the severity of "on" period parkinsonism. The results confirm that amantadine reduces levodopa dyskinesias and support the hypothesis that dyskinesias can be reduced by blockade of excitatory pathways in the basal ganglia.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Auckland Hospital, New Zealand.
authors.forename: B J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Snow
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Macdonald
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Mcauley
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Wallis
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000547:Amantadine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000978:Antiparkinson Agents / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D004409:Dyskinesia, Drug-Induced / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007980:Levodopa / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology*
chemical_list: D000978:Antiparkinson Agents; D007980:Levodopa; D000547:Amantadine