Pramipexole Safely Replaces Ergot Dopamine Agonists with either Rapid or Slow Switching

This prospective, open-label, multicentre study examined the efficacy and safety of rapidly (overnight) or slowly (after 2 weeks of concomitant usage) switching patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) from conventional ergot dopamine agonists (DAs) to the non-ergot DA, pramipexole. Fifty-nine ea...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of international medical research 2008-01, Vol.36 (1), p.106-114
Main Authors: Takahashi, H, Nogawa, S, Tachibana, H, Kawamura, J, Abe, T, Ogino, Y, Kashihara, K, Hamada, T, Kowa, H
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Antiparkinson Agents - administration & dosage
Antiparkinson Agents - therapeutic use
Benzothiazoles - administration & dosage
Benzothiazoles - therapeutic use
Bromocriptine - administration & dosage
Bromocriptine - therapeutic use
Dopamine Agonists - administration & dosage
Dopamine Agonists - therapeutic use
Drug Administration Schedule
Ergolines - administration & dosage
Ergolines - therapeutic use
Female
Humans
Parkinson Disease - diagnosis
Parkinson Disease - drug therapy
Parkinson Disease - physiopathology
Pergolide - administration & dosage
Pergolide - therapeutic use
Prospective Studies
Severity of Illness Index
Treatment Outcome
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Summary:This prospective, open-label, multicentre study examined the efficacy and safety of rapidly (overnight) or slowly (after 2 weeks of concomitant usage) switching patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) from conventional ergot dopamine agonists (DAs) to the non-ergot DA, pramipexole. Fifty-nine early-to-advanced PD patients with motor symptoms that were inadequately controlled by ergot DAs were enrolled. Patients were switched from ergot derivatives to pramipexole and evaluated every 2 weeks for 12 weeks by Hoehn and Yahr staging, Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS) and a modified Epworth Sleepiness Scale (mESS). The UPDRS III subscores and total UPDRS scores significantly improved, independent of switching method. Adverse events, all of which were mild, occurred in 29.2% of patients. No sudden onset of excessive daytime sleepiness or significant worsening in mESS was seen. Switching patients with PD from ergot DA to pramipexole, using either a slow or rapid switching method, appeared to be well tolerated and effective, although further dose adjustment may be necessary in some patients after the switch.
ISSN:0300-0605
1473-2300
DOI:10.1177/147323000803600114