Workshop III: Late motor complications of Parkinson's disease

The aim in the current treatment of Parkinson's disease is to delay L-Dopa administration and to keep the L-Dopa dosage as low as possible. Such a tre atment strategy can delay the onset of late motor complications and reduce their severity. L-Dopa remains the most potent anti-parkinsonian medication , but its use for the initial therapy of Parkinson's disease is limited to elderly patients. In all other cases, dopamine agonists, budipine, amantadi ne and selegiline are primarily used. With the occurrence of late motor com plications continuous dopamine receptor stimulation becomes essential. In t his situation, combination therapy has to be individualized. with dopamine agonists playing a key role. In addition, COMT inhibitors, budipine, amanta dine and selegiline may be used. Anticholinergic drugs are of very limited importance in the current treatment of Parkinson's disease.