THE USE OF PRAMIPEXOLE, A NOVEL DOPAMINE (DA) AGONIST, IN ADVANCED PARKINSONS-DISEASE

We evaluated the efficacy, safety and tolerability of a new dopamine D -2 receptor agonist, pramipexole ,6,7-tetrahydro-6-propylamino-benzath iazol-dihydro chloride], as adjunctive therapy in patients with advanc ed Parkinson's disease (PD). Twenty-four PD patients with motor fluctu ations were treated in an 11 week prospective, single-blind parallel-g roup, placebo-controlled trial. The pramipexole treated group experien ced a significant improvement in ''off'' time functioning as measured by the activities of daily living portion of the United Parkinson's Di sease Rating Scale. In addition, the active treatment group was able t o reduce total levodopa dose by 30% (p < 0.05). Pramipexole was well t olerated and the side effects reported were typical of other dopamine agonists. We conclude that pramipexole has antiparkinsonian effects wh ich make it potentially useful in the treatment of motor fluctuations in PD.