Budipine provides additional benefit in patients with Parkinson disease receiving a stable optimum dopaminergic drug regimen.
BACKGROUND
The complex pharmacological profile of the antiparkinsonian drug budipine influences neurotransmission beyond the dopaminergic system. Previous studies have demonstrated the therapeutic efficacy of budipine on motor symptoms in insufficiently treated patients with Parkinson disease.


OBJECTIVE
To demonstrate the efficacy of 20 mg of budipine, 3 times daily, in addition to a stable, prior, optimum-titrated dopaminergic substitution consisting of a combination of levodopa and a dopa decarboxylase inhibitor, bromocriptine mesylate, and optional selegiline hydrochloride in 99 patients with idiopathic Parkinson disease in a multicenter, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.


RESULTS
Budipine significantly (P<.001) decreased the Columbia University Rating Scale sum score (median, 15.0; 95% confidence interval, 11.3-17.0) compared with placebo (median, 4.3; 95% confidence interval, 3.0-7.5) at study end point. Budipine reduced Columbia University Rating Scale subscores for tremor, rigidity, and akinesia.


CONCLUSIONS
The additional application of budipine provides further therapeutic benefit in subjects with Parkinson disease receiving a stable, prior, optimum-titrated dopaminergic drug regimen because of the hypothetical positive impact of budipine on altered nondopaminergic neurotransmission in patients with Parkinson disease.
Przuntek
Horst
H
Department of Neurology, Ruhr University of Bochum, Gudrunstrass 56, 44791 Bochum, Germany. Horst.Przuntek@ruhr-uni-bochum.de
Bittkau
Stefan
S
Bliesath
Harald
H
Büttner
Ulrich
U
Fuchs
Gerd
G
Glass
Joachim
J
Haller
Harald
H
Klockgether
Thomas
T
Kraus
Peter
P
Lachenmayer
Lutz
L
Müller
Dieter
D
Müller
Thomas
T
Rathay
Bernhard
B
Sgonina
Jörg
J
Steinijans
Volker
V
Teshmar
Elemer
E
Ulm
Gudrun
G
Volc
Dieter
D
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000978:Antiparkinson Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001971:Bromocriptine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015259:Dopamine Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007980:Levodopa / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000188:drug therapy*; D010880:Piperidines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000978:Antiparkinson Agents; D015259:Dopamine Agents; D010880:Piperidines; D001971:Bromocriptine; D007980:Levodopa; C026710:budipine