HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text (PDF) Correspondence: Submit a response Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when Correspondence are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Teychenne, P. F. Articles by Vern, B. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Teychenne, P. F. Articles by Vern, B.

Bromocriptine

Low-dose therapy in Parkinson disease

Department of Neurology (Drs. Teychenne, Bergsrud, and Racy), The George Washington University, Washington, DC, Clinical Research (Dr. Elton), Sandoz Pharmaceuticals, East Hanover, NJ, and the Department of Neurology (Dr. Vern), the University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA.

In a double-blind trial with a placebo phase, low-dose bromocriptine therapy (average dose, 15 mg per day) produced a significant improvement in 25 idiopathic parkinsonian patients. Tremor and bradykinesia were equally and significantly improved in both the levodopa-treated and the de novo patients. Rigidity was most improved in the levodopa-treated subjects. Age was not a factor in determining the dose of bromocriptine or the degree of improvement. Adverse effects occurred in 30% but were mild and dose-dependent. Four subjects, unable to tolerate initial doses of bromocriptine, withdrew from the trial. A low initial dose (1 mg per day) and slow escalation in dosage produced an optimal, though delayed improvement. Low-dose bromocriptine therapy is effective, does not induce significant dyskinesia nor on-off phenomenon, and is probably an alternative to levodopa as a drug of first choice in Parkinson disease.

Address correspondence and reprint requests to Dr. Teychenne, The Neuropsychiatric Institute, Prince Henry Hospital, P.O. Box 233, Matraville, N.S.W. 2036, Australia.

This study was supported by a grant from Sandoz Pharmaceuticals, East Hanover, NJ 07936. Accepted for publication November 23, 1981.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				R. Kurlan International Symposium on Early Dopamine Agonist Therapy of Parkinson's Disease Arch Neurol, February 1, 1988; 45(2): 204 - 208. [Abstract] [PDF]

				N. C. Reynolds Jr and G. K. Montgomery Factor Analysis of Parkinson's Impairment: An Evaluation of the Final Common Pathway Arch Neurol, October 1, 1987; 44(10): 1013 - 1016. [Abstract] [PDF]

				R. F. Pfeiffer, K. Wilken, C. Glaeske, and A. S. Lorenzo Low-Dose Bromocriptine Therapy in Parkinson's Disease Arch Neurol, June 1, 1985; 42(6): 586 - 588. [Abstract] [PDF]