CINNARIZINE-INDUCED PARKINSONISM - 10 YEARS LATER

A retrospective study was carried out to investigate the evolution of patients diagnosed with cinnarizine-induced parkinsonism (CIP) over th e past 15 years. A total of 74 cases of CIP were found among 172 patie nts with drug-induced parkinsonism (DIP), Both CIP and other DIP were significantly more frequent in women. No clinical differences between CLP and other DIP were found. Most of the patients (66 of 74) complete ly recovered after cinnarizine withdrawal in 1-16 months. Eleven patie nts later developed Parkinson's disease; four of them had previously r ecovered. Five patients had tardive dyskinesia. CIP accounts for a hig h proportion of DIP referred to neurologists in populations in which c innarizine is widely prescribed. The symptoms typically resolve after drug withdrawal, although complete recovery may take more than 1 year.