An overnight switch to ropinirole therapy in patients with Parkinson's disease

Patients with Parkinson's disease (n = 68) switched from pergolide or bromo criptine to ropinirole overnight (dose equivalence ratios - 1:6 and 10:6, r espectively). The activities of daily living score for the Unified Parkinso n's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS) was significantly improved 4 weeks after t he bromocriptine-ropinirole switch. All other UPDRS scores, including that for the side-effect component, were not significantly different after eithe r switch. Overnight switching may be a safe therapeutic approach that may r educe hospitalisation and related socio-economic costs.