title: Pramipexole in the treatment of Parkinson's disease: new developments.
abstract: The nonergot dopamine agonist pramipexole is an efficient and safe drug for the treatment of Parkinson's disease. Clinicians may favor pramipexole over other dopamine agonists because of its suggested higher tolerability with respect to peripheral dopaminergic side effects. Importantly, nonergot dopamine agonists such as pramipexole may not cause restrictive valvular heart disease and may therefore represent the first choice in patients with valvular lesions under treatment with ergot dopamine agonists. However, particular caution has to be exercised in younger Parkinson's disease patients with a shorter disease duration regarding the occurrence of sudden onset of sleep. In light of cost-effectiveness and quality-of-life issues, its final significance for the initial treatment of patients with early Parkinson's disease remains to be determined.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Philipps-University, Rudolf-Bultmann-Str. 8, 35039 Marburg, Germany. moellerc@staff.uni-marburg.de
authors.forename: J Carsten
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Möller
authors.forename: Wolfgang H
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Oertel
mesh_terms: D000978:Antiparkinson Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000191:economics / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D052160:Benzothiazoles; D003863:Depression / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology; D005104:Expert Testimony; D006801:Humans; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000191:economics; D000077487:Pramipexole; D011358:Product Surveillance, Postmarketing; D013844:Thiazoles / Q000737:chemistry / Q000191:economics / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014202:Tremor / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology
chemical_list: D000978:Antiparkinson Agents; D052160:Benzothiazoles; D013844:Thiazoles; D000077487:Pramipexole