title: Linear pharmacokinetic behavior of ropinirole during multiple dosing in patients with Parkinson's disease.
abstract: The objectives of this study were to measure the pharmacokinetics of ropinirole at steady state when the drug is used as an adjunct to L-dopa and evaluate the long-term tolerability of ropinirole in this indication. Twenty-four patients who were taking L-dopa for Parkinson's disease and experiencing a lack of symptomatic control were recruited. Patients received open-label adjunctive treatment with ropinirole for up to 2 years. The starting dose was 0.5 mg bid, which could be titrated to a maximum of 6.0 mg tid. Ropinirole demonstrated approximately dose-linear pharmacokinetics at steady state; corresponding values were higher during tid than bid dosing. A reduction in mean L-dopa dose was maintained throughout the trial. The combination of L-dopa and ropinirole was generally well tolerated, with only 1 patient withdrawing from treatment because of adverse events. Thus, ropinirole shows approximately linear steady-state pharmacokinetics and a good safety profile when administered with L-dopa.
authors.affiliation: Ohio State University Parkinson's Disease Center, Columbus 43210, USA.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hubble
authors.forename: W C
authors.initials: WC
authors.lastname: Koller
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Atchison
authors.forename: A C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Taylor
authors.forename: D R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Citerone
authors.forename: B D
authors.initials: BD
authors.lastname: Zussman
authors.forename: C J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Friedman
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Hawker
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000978:Antiparkinson Agents / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007211:Indoles / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000978:Antiparkinson Agents; D007211:Indoles; C046649:ropinirole