Dopamine agonists in the treatment of Parkinson's disease.
Dopamine agonists are highly effective as adjunctive therapy to levodopa in advanced Parkinson's disease and have rapidly gained popularity as a monotherapy in the early stages of Parkinson's disease for patients less than 65-70 years old. In the latter case, dopamine agonists are about as effective as levodopa but patients demonstrate a lower tendency to develop motor complications. However, dopamine agonists lose efficacy over time and the number of patients remaining on agonist monotherapy decreases to less than 50% after 3 years of treatment. Thus, after a few years of treatment the majority of patients who started on dopamine agonists will be administered levodopa, in a combined dopaminergic therapy, in order to achieve a better control of motor symptoms.
Bonuccelli
Ubaldo
U
Department of Neuroscience, University of Pisa, (56126) Pisa, Italy. u.bonuccelli@med.unipi.it
Pavese
Nicola
N
D001058:Apomorphine / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018491:Dopamine Agonists / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005104:Expert Testimony; D006801:Humans; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control
D018491:Dopamine Agonists; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D001058:Apomorphine