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Selegiline in the treatment of daily fluctuations in disability of parkinsonian patients with long‐term levodopa treatment
Author(s) -
H Hein E,
K Rinne U,
J Tuominen
Publication year - 1989
Publication title -
acta neurologica scandinavica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.967
H-Index - 95
eISSN - 1600-0404
pISSN - 0001-6314
DOI - 10.1111/j.1600-0404.1989.tb01790.x
Subject(s) - selegiline , levodopa , placebo , medicine , parkinson's disease , anesthesia , disease , alternative medicine , pathology
– In order to evaluate in a double‐blind manner the therapeutic efficacy of selegiline in the treatment of late‐phase Parkinson's disease, 19 patients with end‐of‐dose type fluctuations were randomized for a double‐blind cross‐over trial receiving either selegiline 10 mg or placebo. Each period lasted 12 weeks. During a two week prestudy period the dose of levodopa was titrated to optimal levels. The disability was evaluated using the Columbia University Disability Scale (CUDS). The patients kept a daily diary to monitor closely the frequency and severity of their fluctuations and the side‐effects of treatment. Their parkinsonian disability and all main symptoms improved significantly during selegiline treatment. The mean duration of action of a levodopa dose was significantly longer and there was significantly less daily end‐of‐dose and early morning akinesia during selegiline treatment. The side‐effects were similar in both treatments. This double‐blind study confirms the findings of earlier open studies that selegiline potentiates and prolongs the therapeutic effects of levodopa and thus its use is particularly beneficial in patients with end‐of‐dose type fluctuations in disability.