PERGOLIDE MESYLATE IN PARKINSONS-DISEASE TREATMENT

In the past 15 years, clinical data of over 1,500 patients treated wit h pergolide mesylate have been published. Pergolide is a dopamine agon ist with a potent stimulating effect on D2 and also on D1 receptors. T his pharmacodynamic characteristic seems the most effective in increas ing the motility in Parkinson's disease. Pergolide has been used almos t exclusively as an adjunct to levodopa treatment. Its positive effect s seems to be related to its long plasma half life, about 27 hours, an d 5-6 hours of clinical activity; it has shown to be effective on all parkinsonian symptoms except for the reduction of postural reflexes, i t reduces off periods and, compared to bromocriptine, it considerably improves the activities of daily living. Adverse reactions are, for th e most part, mild and reversible, they mostly include nausea and gastr oenteric disturbances.