New drugs for the treatment of Parkinson's disease

Since the introduction of levodopa to treat Parkinson's disease (PD), sever al new therapies have been directed at improving symptom control, which can decline after a few years of levodopa therapy Dopaminergic agents can serv e as adjuncts or as alternatives to levodopa. In addition, a new class of d rugs, catechol-O-methyltransferase inhibitors, can extend the duration of l evodopa action. Although surgical options such as pallidotomy offer improve ment of parkinsonism beyond the realm of pharmacologic treatment, judicious administration of drugs in combination can generally solve most problems o f PD.