Effects of a dopamine agonist on the pharmacodynamics of levodopa in Parkinson disease.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Treatment of Parkinson disease commonly includes levodopa and dopamine agonists; however, the interaction of these 2 drugs is poorly understood.

Objective

To examine the effects of a dopamine agonist on the motor response to levodopa.

Design

Double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, crossover clinical trial.

Setting

Ambulatory academic referral center. Patients Thirteen patients with idiopathic Parkinson disease taking levodopa and experiencing motor fluctuations and dyskinesia.

Interventions

Eligible individuals were randomly assigned to receive pramipexole dihydrochloride or placebo for 4 weeks followed by a 2-hour intravenous levodopa infusion on consecutive days at 2 rates and with blinded assessments. They were then crossed over to th

SUBMITTER: Brodsky MA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3390306 | biostudies-literature | 2010 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature