Advances in the treatment of Parkinson's disease

Pharmacological treatment of Parkinson's disease has been advanced by a better understanding of how to use currently existing drugs as well as by the introduction of newer drugs. Three new dopaminergic agonists, ropinirole, pramipexole and cabergoline, have been introduced recently for the treatment of Parkinson's disease. A new class of drugs, COMT inhibitors, such as tolcapone, also have been introduced into clinical practice. These drugs extend the effect of levodopa therapy. The results of clinical trials such as the 5-year Sinemet study indicate that low-dose levo-dopa therapy can control motor symptoms up to 5 years with the minimal prevalence of adverse reactions. Pharmacology, efficacy and adverse reactions of these compounds will be discussed as well as their place in the treatment of Parkinson's disease.