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Effects of amphetamine and/or l ‐dopa and physiotherapy after stroke – a blinded randomized study
Author(s) -
Sonde L.,
Lökk J.
Publication year - 2007
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.1600-0404.2006.00728.x
Subject(s) - medicine , stroke (engine) , placebo , rehabilitation , physical therapy , levodopa , amphetamine , randomized controlled trial , activities of daily living , clinical trial , barthel index , physical medicine and rehabilitation , parkinson's disease , disease , dopamine , alternative medicine , pathology , engineering , mechanical engineering
Objectives – Major therapeutic advances in the rehabilitation of subacute stroke are lacking. A promising approach is treatment with facilitating drugs like amphetamine or levodopa in combination with physiotherapy. Methods – In a randomized, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled clinical trail, the effect of 10 sessions with either 20 mg of d ‐amphetamine, 100 mg of l ‐dopa or 10 mg of d ‐amphetamine + 50 mg of l ‐dopa combined with physiotherapy during a 2‐week period was investigated in 25 patients admitted to a stroke rehabilitation unit. Motor function (Fugl–Meyer score) and activities of daily living (Barthel's index) were assessed. Results – All patients improved significantly over the intervention period. Drug‐treated patients did not show any additional increase in motor function or ADL. Conclusion – It is feasible and safe to perform larger clinical trials with this type of four‐arm design. However, the lack of significant effects could be because of type, dosage, and time of drugs as well as the physical intervention strategy.