LEVODOPA-INDUCED DYSKINESIAS ARE IMPROVED BY FLUOXETINE

We evaluated the severity of motor disability and dyskinesias in seven levodopa-responsive patients with Parkinson's disease after an acute challenge with the mixed dopamine agonist, apomorphine, before and aft er the administration of fluoxetine (20 mg twice per day) for 11 +/- 1 days. After fluoxetine treatment, there was a significant 47% improve ment (p < 0.05) of apomorphine-induced dyskinesias without modificatio n of parkinsonian motor disability. The dyskinesias were reduced predo minantly in the lower limbs during the onset and disappearance of dyst onic dyskinesias (onset- and end-of-dose dyskinesias) and in the upper limbs during choreic mid-dose dyskinesias. The results suggest that i ncreased brain serotoninergic transmission with fluoxetine may reduce levodopa- or dopamine agonist-induced dyskinesias without aggravating parkinsonian motor disability.