Efficacy, safety, and tolerance of the non-ergoline dopamine agonist pramipexole in the treatment of advanced Parkinson's disease: a double blind, placebo controlled, randomised, multicentre study

OBJECTIVES: Pramipexole, a non-ergot dopamine D2/D3 receptor agonist, was investigated as an add on drug in advanced parkinsonian patients with motor fluctuations to assess efficacy, safety, and tolerance. METHODS: Seventy eight patients of either sex with advanced Parkinson's disease and treatment complications such as motor fluctuations were enrolled into a double blind, placebo controlled, randomised, multicentre study (phase II) and assigned to add on treatment with pramipexole (n=34) versus placebo (n=44) to a previously stabilised antiparkinsonian medication (7 week dose titration interval, 4 week maintenance period). The primary end point of efficacy was the change from baseline in the total score of the unified Parkinson's disease rating scale (UPDRS) in the on "period" (2 hours after intake of study medication). Safety and tolerability were assessed on the basis of adverse events, vital signs, laboratory measurements, and ECG recordings. RESULTS: There was a significant improvement of the pramipexole group in UPDRS total scores, subscores part II, III (activities of daily living and motor examination), and IV (complications of therapy). Mean UPDRS total score decreased by 37.3% under pramipexole compared with 12.2% under placebo (p<0.001). Patients under pramipexole reported an overall reduction in "off" periods of 12%--resulting in 1.7 more hours "on" time a day--compared with an increase in "off" periods of 2% under placebo. There were no unexpected safety results. The adverse event profile disclosed a high tolerability. The most important adverse events under pramipexole were fatigue, dyskinesia, and vivid dreams. CONCLUSION: Pramipexole administration is an efficacious and well tolerated add on therapy in patients with advanced Parkinson's disease with an improvement in activities of daily living, motor function, and treatment associated complications.     

An open-label, multicentre clinical trial to determine the levodopa dose-sparing capacity of pramipexole in patients with idiopathic Parkinson's disease

Summary. Ninety-three patients with idiopathic Parkinson's disease (PD) entered a 12 week open-label, baseline controlled, multicentre study. The study was designed to determine the levodopa sparing effect of pramipexole as add-on treatment in PD while maintaining an optimal clinical improvement in motor performance. The overall reduction in adjusted levodopa dose was the primary endpoint. Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS) subscores as well as motor fluctuations, frequency and severity of dyskinesia (assessed by patient diaries) were secondary endpoints. Pramipexole permitted a median reduction of adjusted levodopa by 40% while maintaining or improving the UPDRS scores in 61 patients (per protocol [PP] analysis). The intent-to-treat (ITT) analysis (90 patients) similarly revealed a median reduction of 40%. An anticipated short-term levodopa dose reduction as substantiated by 95% confidence interval calculations lies within a range of 35% to 50%. If unadjusted levodopa doses were considered, a median reduction of 42% (PP) or 43% (ITT) was achieved. 47% patients (ITT) had a levodopa dose reduction (adjusted) of more than 40% while maintaining or improving their level of efficacy, and 72.2% had a reduction of at least 20%. Motor fluctuations improved compared to baseline according to patient diaries and UPDRS part IV. These findings suggest that pramipexole can markedly reduce the daily levodopa dosage without deterioration of motor response and support that this new selective D2/D3 receptor agonist also improves later levodopa-associated motor complications. Received November 11, 1999; accepted April 7, 2000     

Efficacy, safety, and tolerability of pramipexole in untreated and levodopa-treated patients with Parkinson's disease

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of the non-ergot dopamine agonist pramipexole in untreated and levodopa-treated Chinese patients with early or advanced Parkinson's disease. METHODS: This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group study, which was conducted in Hong Kong and Taiwan, comprised a screening period of at least 1 week, a dose-escalation period of 7 weeks, and a maintenance period of 8 weeks (total duration of treatment: 15 weeks). During the dose-escalation period, the dose of pramipexole (or number of placebo tablets) was escalated in a blinded fashion according to a predetermined schedule to the optimum tolerated dose of pramipexole, administered three times a day (minimum dose=0.375 mg/day; maximum dose=4.5 mg/day). This dose was then maintained for the duration of the maintenance period. Efficacy was primarily assessed by the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS). Safety and tolerability were evaluated by treatment-emergent adverse event reports, clinical laboratory test results (blood chemistry, hematology, and urinalysis), vital signs, and electrocardiograms. RESULTS: Pramipexole was significantly more effective than placebo in reducing the total scores of the UPDRS Part II, Part III, and Parts II and III combined. Approximately 70% of both the placebo- and pramipexole-treated patients evaluated in this analysis were on levodopa. Regardless of levodopa use, the mean UPDRS total scores showed a consistently greater improvement in pramipexole patients than in placebo patients. Mean scores for pramipexole patients not on levodopa showed a greater improvement than did pramipexole patients on levodopa. The mean improvement for the pramipexole/no levodopa group relative to the placebo/no levodopa group at week 15 was 10.93 points (i.e., -14.43 points minus -3.50 points). The mean improvement for the pramipexole/levodopa group relative to the placebo/levodopa group at week 15 was 9.04 points (i.e., -10.26 points minus -1.22 points). Pramipexole was also superior to placebo as measured by improvement in the modified Hoehn and Yahr Scale and a reduction in the number of "off" hours for patients on concomitant levodopa therapy. CONCLUSIONS: Pramipexole is an effective and well-tolerated therapy, with or without concomitant levodopa, for Chinese patients with Parkinson's disease.     

普拉克索治疗帕金森病的系统评价

目的 系统评价普拉克索治疗帕金森病(Pakinson's disease,PD)的临床疗效.方法 通过检索Pubmed、Embase、Cochrane Database及中国生物医学文献数据库,检索国内外2007年4月前已发表的普拉克索对照安慰剂治疗PD的临床研究.对所纳入的研究进行质量评价及meta分析.结果 共纳入10项随机对照试验(RCT)研究(纳入患者1738例),meta分析结果 显示:普拉克索可以降低PD患者统一PD评分量表(UPDRS)总分[加权均数差值(WMD)=-10.01,95%CI(-12.76～-7.26)]、UPDRSⅡ分值[WMD=-2.44,95%CI(-2.93～-1.95)]以及UPDRSⅢ分值[WMD=-6.61,95%C/(-8.38～-4.84)];普拉克索还可以降低晚期PD患者UPDRS Ⅳ分值[WMD=-0.73,95%CI(一1.16～-0.30)],以上结果 皆有统计学意义(P＜0.05).3项研究比较了普拉克索与安慰剂治疗震颤的疗效,研究间存在异质性,其中2项研究显示疗效差异有统计学意义.结论 普拉克索可以缓解患者的运动症状,改善生活质量.普拉克索具有改善治疗震颤的趋势,还需要更多的RCT研究进一步证实.     

普拉克索治疗帕金森病运动并发症的临床研究

目的 探讨普拉克索对经复方左旋多巴治疗并且已经出现运动并发症的中晚期帕金森病(PD)患者的疗效和安全性.方法 42例PD患者在原有复方左旋多巴治疗的基础上加用普拉克索1.5～3.0mg/d,为期12周.疗效指标为治疗前后统一PD评定量表(Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale,UPDRS)及汉密尔顿抑郁量表(Hamilton Depression Scale,HAMD)评分,其中UPDBS Ⅰ及HAMD用于评价精神、行为、情绪等非运动症状;UPDRS Ⅱ评价日常生活活动能力;UPDRS Ⅲ、Ⅳ及"开"期和"关"期时间的变化用于评价运动功能,并对患者的临床疗效进行整体评价.安全性指标为不良反应、血压、脉搏、实验室检查、心电图及对认知功能的影响.结果 治疗12周后,UPDRS各项评分均减少,差异具有统计学意义(UPDRS总分:52.05±7.69与39.26±7.64,t=25.378,P＜0.05).UPDRS运动评分改善22.61%,"开"期持续时间增加约1.64 h;复方左旋多巴用最平均减少129.46 mg/d;治疗并发症评分变化均值下降1.45分;HAMD评分均值下降6.14分.不良反应主要有头晕、嗜睡、恶心、便秘、厌食等.结论 普拉克索对运动症状和非运动症状均有较好的疗效,不良反应发生率低,中晚期PD患者加用普拉克索是安全而有效的.     

Long-term efficacy and safety of pramipexole in advanced Parkinson's disease: results from a European multicenter trial.

A double-blind, placebo-controlled study with a subsequent open-label phase was conducted in 354 patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) and motor fluctuations under individually adjusted therapy with levodopa. During the double-blind phase 174 patients received pramipexole and 180 placebo. In agreement with previous studies, pramipexole treatment improved UPDRS sum scores of parts II and III by 30% and off times by approximately 2.5 hours per day. Differences between the treatment groups became significant at a daily dose of 0.75 mg of pramipexole dihydrochloride. We, furthermore, performed post hoc analyses with respect to resting tremor and depression. Patients with pronounced resting tremor derived a clear benefit from pramipexole treatment compared with placebo. In addition, pramipexole significantly improved the subitems motivation/initiative and depression in a subpopulation with increased Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale I scores at the time of inclusion. There were 262 patients who were subsequently enrolled into the open-label study featuring a maximum duration of up to 57 months. Statistical analysis revealed good long-term efficacy and tolerability of pramipexole. Overall, only a low prevalence of somnolence was found. In summary, this study provides additional level I evidence of the usefulness of pramipexole, suggests a particular tremorlytic and a possible antidepressant action of this compound, and addresses for the first time its efficacy and safety during long-term administration in advanced PD.     

普拉克索添加治疗帕金森病临床随机对照研究

目的 评价新型多巴胺受体激动剂普拉克索联合美多巴与单用美多巴治疗帕金森病(PD)患者的疗效及安全性. 方法 采用随机对照开放式研究,将70例PD患者按照随机数字表法分为普拉克索+美多巴组和美多巴组,每组各35例.治疗12周后判断其疗效及安全性.疗效判定的主要指标为统一PD评定量表第Ⅲ部分(UPDRSⅢ)的运动检查总评分相对患者基线的变化和第Ⅱ部分(UPDRS Ⅱ)的日常生活活动能力总评分相对患者基线的变化;次要指标为第Ⅰ部分(UPDRS Ⅰ)的精神、行为和情感总评分相对患者基线的变化和第Ⅳ部分(UPDRS Ⅳ)的治疗并发症总评分相对患者基线的变化和美多巴药物每日剂量相对基线的变化.安全性指标依据药物的不良反应来判定. 结果 普拉克索+美多巴组患者UPDRS Ⅲ总评分均值与基线相比下降了11.40分,高于美多巴组(9.26分),比较差异有统计学意义(P<0.05);UPDRS Ⅱ总评分均值与基线相比下降了4.57分,高于美多巴组(4.50分),比较差异无统计学意义(P<0.05);UPDRS Ⅰ总评分均值与基线相比下降了0.66分,低于美多巴组(1.14分),差异无统计学意义(P0.05);UPDRS Ⅳ总评分均值与基线相比下降了0.22分,美多巴组则升高了0.06分,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05).与基线相比,治疗后12周普拉克索+美多巴组美多巴的日用量下降了163.57 mg/d,美多巴组升高了8.57 mg/d,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05).普拉克索+美多巴组在治疗后12周发生疗效减退、症状波动、异动症的例数均低于美多巴组,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05).美多巴组出现了明显的疗效减退、症状波动、异动症,而普拉克索+美多巴组无明显的上述症状,但有2例出现突然入睡发作、1例嗜睡、1例直立性低血压. 结论 普拉克索+美多巴组在改善PD运动功能方面优于美多巴组,在日常活动,精神、行为和情绪方面疗效相似.同时服用普拉克索可以明显减少美多巴的用量及其治疗后所引起的并发症(疗效减退、症状波动及异动症)的发生率.普拉克索可引起突然入睡发作、嗜睡、直立性低血压等副作用.     

Efficacy of pramipexole and transdermal rotigotine in advanced Parkinson's disease: a double-blind, double-dummy, randomised controlled trial

BACKGROUND: Continuous dopaminergic drug delivery is an unmet medical need in advanced Parkinson's disease. The aim of this trial-Clinical Efficacy of Pramipexole And Transdermal Rotigotine in Advanced PD (CLEOPATRA-PD)-was to assess the efficacy of adjunct treatment with rotigotine in comparison with placebo and with pramipexole in levodopa-treated patients with advanced Parkinson's disease and wearing-off type motor fluctuations. METHODS: In this randomised controlled trial, eligible participants were randomly assigned to receive either rotigotine (up to 16 mg/24 h as a transdermal patch), pramipexole (up to 4.5 mg/day orally), or placebo for 6 months. Primary efficacy variables were absolute change in total hours "off" (assessed by home diaries) from baseline to end of study and responder rate (defined as the proportion of patients with >or=30% reduction in absolute off time per day). Analyses were done by intention to treat. This trial is registered with the US National Institutes of Health clinical trials database (ClinicalTrials.gov), number NCT00244387. FINDINGS: 204 patients were randomly assigned to receive rotigotine, 201 to receive pramipexole, and 101 to receive placebo; 427 (84%) completed the trial. The number of discontinuations in each group was similar; most were for adverse events. The mean dose of rotigotine was 12.95 mg/24 h (SD 3.54), the mean dose of pramipexole was 3.1 mg/day (1.24). Mean absolute change in off time from baseline was -2.5 h (SE 0.20) with rotigotine, -2.8 h (0.20) with pramipexole, and -0.9 h (0.29) with placebo. The absolute change in off time from baseline compared with placebo was -1.58 h (95% CI -2.27 to -0.90; p<0.0001) for rotigotine and -1.94 h (-2.63 to -1.25; p<0.0001) for pramipexole. Responder rates were 67% (134 of 200 patients) for pramipexole, 59.7% (120 of 201 patients) for rotigotine, and 35% (35 of 100 patients) for placebo. INTERPRETATION: In terms of change in absolute off time, rotigotine was non-inferior to pramipexole. Continuous delivery of rotigotine as transdermal patches could offer similar efficacy to oral pramipexole in patients with fluctuating Parkinson's disease over 6 months of treatment.     

Pramipexole in progressive supranuclear palsy

Progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder with no effective treatment. Dopaminergic agents occasionally produce transient symptomatic improvement. The authors report the results of pramipexole treatment (4.5 mg daily) in six patients with PSP (average disease duration, 4.4 years). Patients were treated for 2 months. Patients were evaluated with the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale, Hoehn and Yahr stage, and Schwab and England Activities of Daily Living Scale at baseline and 2 months. Pramipexole was not efficacious for the symptoms of PSP.     

Pramipexole in the treatment of advanced Parkinson's disease

Pramipexole is a novel nonergoline dopamine agonist with a preference for the dopamine D₃ receptor subtype. Its efficacy and safety in the treatment of advanced Parkinson's disease has been investigated in several clinical studies. This review provides a summary of the data currently available, particularly in reference to the recent results of the European clinical phase III study and the potential tremorlytic activity of pramipexole. Interim analysis of the open-label European clinical phase III study has provided evidence of long-term efficacy and safety of pramipexole. In another study pramipexole has been shown to be significantly superior to placebo with an improvement in tremor score by 48% (vs. 13% in the placebo group). In addition to its likely usefulness in the treatment of rest tremor in Parkinson's disease, data suggest that pramipexole is of interest due to its reported low frequency of cardiovascular and gastrointestinal side-effects. However, studies comparing pramipexole with other antiparkinsonian agents would be useful to further define its benefits in the treatment of tremor-dominant Parkinson's disease and to further document its favourable adverse event profile.     

Randomized, double-blind, 3-month parallel study of the effects of pramipexole, pergolide, and placebo on Parkinsonian tremor.

We compared the antitremor effect of pramipexole, pergolide, or placebo in Parkinson's disease (PD). A double-blind, randomly controlled, parallel protocol was deployed to examine the effects of placebo, pergolide, and pramipexole [doses escalated to 1.5 mg three times daily (t.i.d.) over 3 months] on a compound Tremor Index (TI) and Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS) part III. Thirty PD patients (19 men, 11 women; mean age 69 years, range 54-80 years; mean disease duration 3.9 years, range, 0.5-10 years) participated in the study, with 10 patients in each arm. Six subjects failed to complete the study (4 on pergolide and 2 on placebo). Analysis of covariance demonstrated strong evidence for a treatment effect on both TI and UPDRS III. There was no significant difference between the active treatments on either TI or UPDRS III. Both pergolide and pramipexole were significantly better than placebo. The results indicate that pergolide and pramipexole (1.5 mg t.i.d.) have similar anti-PD tremor and UPDRS III actions that are significantly superior to placebo. Patients on pergolide were more likely to drop out because of adverse events than those on pramipexole.     

普拉克索治疗帕金森病的临床疗效观察

目的 观察普拉克索治疗帕金森病的临床疗效.方法 对40例帕金森病病人进行统一评分量表(UPDRS)评分,其中6例病人未服用任何抗帕金森药物即予普拉克索治疗,其余病人在原药基础上加服普拉克索.用药12周后再次应用UDPRS量表进行评分.比较普拉克索治疗前后UDPRS量表分值的差异.部分帕金森病人采用2周,4周,8周,12周随访,对病情进行评分,来观察疗效.结果 40例病人经普拉克索治疗后,有效35例,有效率87.5%.治疗前后,大部分帕金森患者在UDPRS总评分、日常活动、运动功能、震颤、肌僵直、精神症状、开关现象等方面的评分改善均有统计学意义.而且对部分门诊病人的随访评分中发现,病人的各方面病情也有很大的好转.结论 普拉克索可有效改善帕金森病人的临床症状,是一种使用安全、疗效理想的抗帕金森病药物.     

Rationale for delayed‐start study of pramipexole in Parkinson's disease: The PROUD study

Perhaps the most important unmet need in Parkinson's disease (PD) is the ability to slow or prevent progression of the neurodegeneration that underlies the motor and nonmotor features of this disorder. Pramipexole, a dopamine agonist used for the symptomatic treatment of PD, has demonstrated neuroprotective properties in laboratory studies. The PRamipexole On Underlying Disease (PROUD) study is a randomized, double‐blind clinical trial evaluating the ability of pramipexole to modify disease progression using a delayed‐start design. PD patients (n = 535) with mean age 62.5 years, mean duration since diagnosis of 4.4 months, and mean total Unified Parkinson's disease Rating Scale (UPDRS) score of 24.5 were recruited. In Phase I, patients were randomly assigned to be titrated to 1.5 mg pramipexole or placebo and maintained on study drug for 6–9 months. In Phase II, all patients were titrated to 1.5 mg pramipexole and maintained on study drug until the end of the study at 15 months. No rescue medication was allowed in the protocol. The primary endpoint is the change in total UPDRS score (parts I–III) from baseline to 15 months. A range of secondary endpoints separately assess UPDRS subscales, quality of life, depression, and impulse control disorders. A sub‐study examined dopamine transporter uptake scans at baseline and 15 months. The results of PROUD will provide insight into the potential for early versus delayed treatment with pramipexole to modify motor outcome at 15 months in recently diagnosed PD patients. © 2010 Movement Disorder Society     

The role of sensory cues in the rehabilitation of parkinsonian patients: a comparison of two physical therapy protocols.

We devised a single-blind study to assess the role of providing external sensory cues in the rehabilitation of patients with idiopathic Parkinson's disease (PD). Twenty stable, nondemented patients with PD entered a 6-week rehabilitation program and were randomly assigned to two balanced protocols which were differentiated by the use of external sensory cues ("non-cued" vs "cued"). Patients were evaluated by a neurologist, who was blind to group membership, with the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS) at baseline, end of treatment, and after 6 weeks. Patient groups were comparable for age, disease duration, and severity. A significant reduction of UPDRS scores (activities of daily living and motor sections) was present after the rehabilitation phase in both groups. However, at follow up, while this clinical improvement had largely faded in the "non-cued" group, mean UPDRS scores of the "cued" group were still significantly lower than baseline values. The incorporation of external sensory cues in the rehabilitation protocol can extend the short-term benefit of physical therapy in moderately disabled patients with PD, possibly as a result of the learning of new motor strategies. "Cued" physical therapy for PD should be targeted to compensate for the defective physiological mechanisms.     

Pramipexole, a nonergot dopamine agonist, is effective against rest tremor in intermediate to advanced Parkinson's disease.

We evaluated the efficacy of the nonergot dopamine receptor agonist pramipexole in 16 patients with advanced Parkinson's disease and marked rest tremor during an "on" period. The patients were drawn from a larger placebo-controlled, double-blind, randomized trial, which was not originally designed to investigate the effect of pramipexole on tremor. Eleven patients received pramipexole. The first effects were seen with a pramipexole dose of 0.75 mg/d with a reduction of the tremor item A of Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS III, "on" state) by 25% and of rigidity and akinesia by 22%. Under the highest dose, 4.5 mg/d, the tremor score was improved by 61% over baseline (p < 0.0056, Wilcoxon signed rank) and the sum of rigidity and akinesia items by 66% (p < 0.0038, Wilcoxon signed rank). Five patients received placebo and did not improve. Based on this sample of patients, the nonergot dopamine receptor agonist pramipexole appears to have a potent anti-rest tremor action while being effective against akinesia and rigidity.     

Conversion from dopamine agonists to pramipexole

Abstract.Background: Pramipexole is a nonergoline dopamine agonist with D2 and preferential D3 dopamine receptor activity. This selective activity may result in clinically different effects. Small clinical trials indicate that overnight switching from one agonist to another can be performed safely. Objective To determine safety and efficacy of overnight switching from dopamine agonists to pramipexole in patients with advanced Parkinsons disease (PD).Objective: To determine safety and efficacy of overnight switching from dopamine agonists to pramipexole in patients with advanced Parkinsons disease (PD).Methods: Patients with advanced PD and motor complications not optimally controlled by levodopa and a stable dose of bromocriptine, pergolide or ropinirole were converted to pramipexole overnight. Clinical assessments were performed just prior to conversion and after 2, 6 and 12 weeks of treatment, when an optimal dose of pramipexole was achieved.Results: Two hundred and seventeen patients were included in the trial. One hundred and twenty five were converted from pergolide to pramipexole, 58 from bromocriptine and 34 from ropinirole. After 12 weeks, the average dose of pramipexole was 2.8, 2.9 and 3.4 mg/d in patients converted from bromocriptine, pergolide, and ropinirole, respectively. UPDRS II, III and IV scores were reduced by 26–30 % in all patients (p < 0.0001). Mean levodopa dose was slightly reduced in all groups (p: NS). No serious or unexpected side effects were reported. The dose equivalences calculated from this trial were: bromocriptine: pramipexole 6.9:1, pergolide: pramipexole 0.9:1, ropinirole: pramipexole 1.5:1.Conclusion: Switching from bromocriptine, pergolide or ropinirole to pramipexole in an overnight schedule is safe. The observed clinical improvement may be related to a placebo effect, to the use of low doses of dopamine agonists or to a direct effect of pramipexole.     

Pramipexole versus sertraline in the treatment of depression in Parkinson’s disease

In addition to treating the motor symptoms of Parkinson's disease, the dopamine agonist pramipexole has shown an antidepressant effect. The trials, however, included patients with motor complications, raising the question of whether the antidepressant benefit represented only a treatment-related motor improvement. To address this issue, we have conducted a 14-week randomized trial comparing pramipexole with an established antidepressant in patients without motor complications. At seven Italian centers, 67 Parkinsonian outpatients with major depression but no history of motor fluctuations and/or dyskinesia received open-label pramipexole (at 1.5 to 4.5 mg/day) or sertraline (at 50 mg/day). In both groups, the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D) score decreased throughout 12 weeks of treatment, but in the pramipexole group the proportion of patients who recovered, as defined by a final HAM-D score 相似文献   

A double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized, multi-center study of pramipexole in advanced Parkinson's disease

Pramipexole (SND 919), a potent non-ergot dopamine agonist, or placebo, was administered to 69 patients with advanced Parkinson's disease (33 received placebo, 36 received pramipexole) in a double-blind, randomized, multi-center study in which individually optimized doses of l -dopa plus a dopa decarboxylase inhibitor were associated with dyskinesia, "on–off" fluctuation, dystonia, akinesia, or end-of-dose deterioration. Study medication was titrated over 7 weeks to the maximal tolerated dose or to the maximal dose allowed by the study (5 mg/day in four divided doses). Dosing was maintained for 4 weeks and then tapered during the final week. Total score on the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS) for the intent-to-treat population was significantly improved in the pramipexole-treated group compared with the placebo-treated group (16.9 ± 14.9 vs 9.0 ± 16.1; p = 0.0184). By the end of maintenance, the mean reduction in l -dopa requirement was −150.7 mg for pramipexole-treated patients compared to −10.6 for placebo-treated patients. The most common adverse events (> 10%) were dizziness, insomnia, nausea, and postural hypotension. Aggravated parkinsonism occurred only after withdrawal of the study medication. Treatment with pramipexole in doses up to 5 mg/day was safe and well tolerated by patients with advanced Parkinson's disease.     

Efficacy and safety of pramipexole in restless legs syndrome

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of pramipexole in patients with moderate to severe restless legs syndrome (RLS) METHODS: The authors conducted a 12-week, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial of fixed doses of pramipexole (0.25, 0.50, and 0.75 mg/day). Patients (N = 344) were up-titrated to their randomized dose over 3 weeks. The primary efficacy endpoints were patient ratings of symptom severity on the International RLS Study Group Rating Scale (IRLS) and clinician ratings of improvement on the Clinical Global Impressions-Improvement (CGI-I) scale. Secondary efficacy endpoints included visual analogue ratings of sleep and quality of life (QOL) RESULTS: By both primary measures, pramipexole was superior to placebo. For IRLS, the adjusted mean (SE) change from baseline to week 12 was -9.3 (1.0) for placebo, -12.8 (1.0) for 0.25 mg/day, -13.8 (1.0) for 0.50 mg/day, and -14.0 (1.0) for 0.75 mg/day (all p < 0.01). Similarly, pramipexole increased the percentage of patients with a CGI-I rating of "very much improved" or "much improved" at the end of the trial (51.2% for placebo and 74.7%, 67.9%, and 72.9% for pramipexole; all p < 0.05). Pramipexole significantly improved ratings of symptom severity, day and night, and also ratings of sleep satisfaction and QOL. Pramipexole was well tolerated: The most frequent adverse events with higher occurrence in the pramipexole group were nausea (19.0% vs 4.7%) and somnolence (10.1% vs 4.7%) CONCLUSION: As rated by patients and by clinicians, pramipexole was efficacious and safe in reducing the symptoms of restless legs syndrome.     

Quetiapine improves psychotic symptoms and cognition in Parkinson's disease.

Twenty-nine elderly patients who failed treatment with clozapine, risperidone, or olanzapine entered this 24-week, single-center, open-label trial to assess the efficacy of quetiapine (12.5-400 mg/day) for psychosis in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD). Psychiatric, motor, and cognitive assessments were administered at baseline and at periodic intervals for 24 weeks. These included the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS), Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI), Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS) and tests of intellectual functioning, attention, and memory. Repeated measures statistical analysis was used to assess change from baseline. The results revealed significant improvements in the 24-week BPRS total score and NPI psychosis subscale scores, with no decline in UPDRS total or motor subscale scores. There was also significant improvement in recall scores on cognitive measures. These results indicate that quetiapine may treat psychotic symptoms and improve cognition without worsening motor function in patients with PD, suggesting that quetiapine is an effective and well-tolerated antipsychotic in this population.