Costs in the treatment of parkinsonism

Parkinson's disease imposes a considerable economic burden on our society. Apart from the direct costs for therapy, the indirect costs of the disease are estimated to be substantially higher. Unfortunately, only the high cost s of current medication are usually considered. when financial aspects are discussed. An ideal therapy should ameliorate the symptoms of the disease a nd achieve a high quality of life, but the prognosis should also be improve d. Cost estimates have to be extended throughout the course of the disease. We recommend a treatment schedule which is expected to result in a favorab le cost profile when the entire course of the disease, is considered. L-Dop a monotherapy in working patients is obsolete. During the course of the dis ease dopamine agonists, amantadine, budipine, COMT inhibitors and selegilin e will be used.