title: Efficacy and tolerability of dopamine agonists in a parkinsonian population.
abstract: A clinical retrospective study was carried out in a population of 366 Parkinson's disease (PD) outpatients, to analyse the efficacy and tolerability of nonergoline and ergoline dopamine agonist (DA), in monotherapy or in combination with L-dopa. Safety was comparable in both groups except for higher occurrence of gastrointestinal symptoms in ergoline group and somnolence in nonergoline group. No significant difference concerning efficacy and tolerability was found during DA monotherapy. Mean age at PD onset was slightly higher in patients withdrawing DA monotherapy for adverse events comparing to patients who needed the addition of L-dopa (60.36 +/- 7.53 versus 54.88 +/- 10.75; p<0.05), suggesting that older age at the onset of the disease increases the risk for adverse events during DA monotherapy. The follow-up of the remaining patients still in monotherapy with DA will allow a better evaluation of these aspects.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurological Sciences, University of Bari, Italy.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zenzola
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Diroma
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fraddosio
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lamberti
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Moramarco
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Palagano
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Iliceto
mesh_terms: D017668:Age of Onset; D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D052160:Benzothiazoles; D001971:Bromocriptine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D018491:Dopamine Agonists / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004347:Drug Interactions / Q000502:physiology; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D004361:Drug Tolerance / Q000502:physiology*; D004873:Ergolines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000819:agonists; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007211:Indoles / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D007980:Levodopa / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D008090:Lisuride / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000188:drug therapy*; D010479:Pergolide / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D000077487:Pramipexole; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013844:Thiazoles / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D052160:Benzothiazoles; D018491:Dopamine Agonists; D004873:Ergolines; D007211:Indoles; D013844:Thiazoles; C046649:ropinirole; D010479:Pergolide; D001971:Bromocriptine; D007980:Levodopa; D000077487:Pramipexole; D008090:Lisuride