PMID: 08748628: Second generation of dopamine agonists: pros and cons.

[janet marie paterson <janet313@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

Second generation of dopamine agonists: pros and cons.

Dopamine agonists (DAGs) were first used in patients with moderate or
advanced Parkinson's disease (PD). At that time, it was thought that DAGs
could replace levodopa (LD) with fewer side effects. However, it soon became
clear that while they could not replace LD, they did allow reduction of the
dose of LD and diminished its side effects. Since the use of DAGs reduces
response fluctuations as well as dyskinesias, there is a tendency to
introduce them in the first stages of the disease, trying to delay motor
fluctuations. While many DAGs have been developed, only four have been
marketed and are used extensively for the treatment of Parkinson's disease:
apomorphine, bromocriptine, lisuride and pergolide. In the present chapter,
following a review of the "old" DAGs, the experience with three new
promising DAGs is reported: cabergoline, ropinirole and pramipexole.

J Neural Transm Suppl 1995;45:213-24
Rabey JM
Department of Neurology, Asaf Harofe Hospital, Zrifin, Iszael.
PMID: 8748628, UI: 96353137

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janet paterson
52 now / 41 dx / 37 onset
a new voice: 
613 256 8340 PO Box 171 Almonte Ontario Canada K0A 1A0