Ropinirol - A new dopamine agonist

Ropinirol is a dopamine agonist of the second generation with highly specif ic D-2/D stimulation. Since it is a non-ergoline structure there are less s ide effects such as fibrosis or Raynaud's syndrome. Ropinirol was as effect ive as levodopa when patients were treated who fulfilled the criteria of st age I and II of Hoehn and Yahr. In all HY stages ropinirol was more effecti ve than bromocriptine. Ropinirol indices almost no motor fluctuations of hy perkinesias. Besides bromocriptine ropinirol is the only dopamine agonist p ermitted for monotherapy in Germany. It is also highly potent in combinatio n therapy.