Fwd: Cisapride (Propulsid)

[BarbYac@xxxxxxx]

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Forwarded message:
Subj:    Cisapride (Propulsid)
Date:    96-01-20 19:26:50 EST
From:    BarbYac
To:      pcflinte@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Camilla and Peter Flinterman:  Thank you for the info re cisapride for
constipation.  Are you aware of the added attraction of this medication?  I
found this in the latest newsletter "The Transmitter" of the Parkinson's
Association of Victoria (British Columbia):

A recent study (Diaz,N.W., Sanchez,V., et al) l995 demonstrated that
cisapride increased the mean and peak plasma levels of levodopa in
constipatad Parkinsonians with poor responses to levodopa.  More important,
cisapride given to these patients enhances motor abilities, shown by better
hand-eye coordination and improved gait.

Patients with PD and slow gastric emptying may keep the medication in their
stomach for many hours and deliver significant amounts of levodopa
erratically to the bowel several hours after its oral intake.  This would
produce an unpredictable response, or even lack of response when the stomach
is closed.  Conversely, dyskinesias may occur when the stomach suddenly
empties excessive amounts of medication into the small intestine.

Cisapride appears to be a useful add-on medication of levodopa treated
patients with slow gastric emptying.

Regards,
Barbara Yacos
<barbyac@xxxxxxx>