title: Memantine and reduced time with dyskinesia in Parkinson's Disease.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The partial glutamate antagonist amantadine is currently used in clinical practice, to reduce dyskinesia developing as a side-effect of levodopa treatment in patients suffering from Parkinson's disease (PD). This study was aimed at evaluating the antidyskinetic effect of another glutamate antagonist, memantine.
  
  
  METHODS
  We performed a randomized, double-blind and placebo-controlled crossover clinical trial of memantine (20 mg), with a 3-week treatment period, and 15 patients completed the study.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The primary outcome measure, a change in observed dyskinesia ratings, did not reach significance. Seven of the 15 patients reduced the L-dopa-induced dyskinesias by 32%, whereas for three patients, they increased by 33%, and for five patients, they did not change. Data from the self-administered diaries, as a secondary outcome measure, did show a significant 35% reduction in the percentage of time of the day spent with dyskinesia, from 25% (placebo) to 16% (memantine). Memantine was well tolerated, without any serious adverse events, or worsening in the parkinsonian motor score.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results suggest that memantine may be a useful antidyskinetic drug, and a larger clinical study is warranted.
authors.affiliation: Division of Neurology, Department of Clinical Sciences, Skåne University Hospital, Lund University, Lund, Sweden.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Wictorin
authors.affiliation: Division of Neurology, Department of Clinical Sciences, Skåne University Hospital, Lund University, Lund, Sweden.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Widner
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000978:Antiparkinson Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004409:Dyskinesia, Drug-Induced / Q000188:drug therapy*; D018691:Excitatory Amino Acid Antagonists / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007980:Levodopa / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D008559:Memantine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000188:drug therapy*
chemical_list: D000978:Antiparkinson Agents; D018691:Excitatory Amino Acid Antagonists; D007980:Levodopa; D008559:Memantine
keywords: Parkinson′s disease; dyskinesia; levodopa; memantine