title: Sleep attacks and dopamine agonists for Parkinson's disease: what is currently known?
abstract: The aetiology of sleep disturbances in patients with Parkinson's disease is multifactorial. Medications, the disease process and underlying sleep disorders may contribute to sleepiness in patients with the disease. Somnolence, excessive daytime sleepiness and sleep attacks appear to be more common in patients with Parkinson's disease who are treated with dopamine receptor agonists than in those who are treated with other antiparkinsonian agents, although virtually all dopaminergic antiparkinsonian medications may contribute to sleepiness. Somnolence caused by dopamine agonists may be dose related and occurs most frequently during the dose-escalation phase. Somnolence may also emerge or worsen after a period of time on a stable dose. Patients with Parkinson's disease and caregivers should be informed about the risk of sleepiness and sleep attacks associated with dopaminergic medications and the potential implications for driving safety.
authors.affiliation: Parkinson's Disease and Movement Disorders Center and Department of Neurology, University of South Florida, Tampa General Healthcare, Tampa, Florida 33606, USA.
authors.forename: Theresa A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Zesiewicz
authors.forename: Robert A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Hauser
mesh_terms: D006970:Disorders of Excessive Somnolence / Q000139:chemically induced*; D018491:Dopamine Agonists / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy; D012893:Sleep Wake Disorders / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000188:drug therapy
chemical_list: D018491:Dopamine Agonists