Ropinirole for the treatment of early Parkinson's disease

• DOI: 10.1212/wnl.49.2.393
• Publication Date: 2012-05-13T13:29:48Z
• Authors: C. H. Adler; K. D. Sethi; R. A. Hauser; T. L. Davis; J. P. Hammerstad; J. Bertoni; R. L. Taylor; J. Sanchez-Ramos; C. F. O'Brien
• Keywords: Ropinirole; Selegiline; Clinical endpoint; Pramipexole

A prospective, randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind, parallel-group, 6-month study assessed the efficacy and safety of ropinirole, a nonergoline D2-dopamine agonist, in patients with early Parkinson's disease (n = 241; Hoehn & Yahr stages I to III) limited or no prior dopaminergic therapy. Patients (mean age, 62.8 years), stratified by concomitant use selegiline, were randomized ropinirole (n= 116) placebo 125). The starting dose was 0.25 mg tid titration at least 1.5 (maximum dose, 8 tid). Primary endpoint percentage improvement Unified Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS) motor score. Ropinirole-treated had significantly greater UPDRS score than who received (+24% vs -3%; p < 0.001). Ropinirole well tolerated patient withdrawals infrequent. Most adverse experiences related peripheral activity. monotherapy is an effective well-tolerated therapeutic option for treatment disease.