Non-subtype-selective opioid receptor antagonism in treatment of levodopa-induced motor complications in Parkinson's disease. |
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Authors: | Susan Fox Montague Silverdale Mark Kellett Rhys Davies Malcolm Steiger Nicholas Fletcher Alan Crossman Jonathan Brotchie |
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Affiliation: | The Walton Centre for Neurology and Neurosurgery, Liverpool, United Kingdom. sfox@uhnres.utoronto.ca |
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Abstract: | Opioid peptide transmission is enhanced in the striatum of animal models and Parkinson's disease (PD) patients with levodopa-induced motor complications. Opioid receptor antagonists reduce levodopa-induced dyskinesia in primate models of PD; however, clinical trials to date have been inconclusive. A double-blind, placebo controlled, crossover design study in 14 patients with PD experiencing motor fluctuations was carried out, using the non-subtype-selective opioid receptor antagonist naloxone. Naloxone did not reduce levodopa-induced dyskinesia. The duration of action of levodopa was increased significantly by 17.5%. Non-subtype-selective opioid receptor antagonism may prove useful in the treatment of levodopa-related wearing-off in PD but not in dyskinesia. |
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Keywords: | Parkinson's disease dyskinesia motor fluctuations opioids naloxone |
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