[Choosing a dopamine agonist in Parkinson's disease]

The number of dopamine agonists (DA) used in Parkinson's disease (PD) is gradually increasing. They have different affinity to the dopamine receptor subtypes. When choosing one of these drugs one should consider its efficacy in monotherapy in early phase and in combined therapy with levodopa in advanced PD, side effects profile, effectiveness in non-motor symptoms of PD, dosing and route of administration. The efficacy of new DA (pramipexol, ropinirol, cabergoline) is probably higher than bromocriptine and comparable to pergolide with similar profile of the most common side effects (headache, vertigo, nausea, somnolence, oedema). However, fibrosis of the pleura, peritoneum and pericardium as well as valvular heart disease (caused by noninflammatory fibrotic degeneration) are significantly more common after ergoline DA (pergolide, cabergoline). Pramipexol shows antidepressant activity. Ropinirol is metabolised by the liver and can be safely administered in renal insufficiency. Pramipexol is excreted in urine and the risk of interaction with other drugs metabolised in the liver is reduced. Rotigotine is the only DA available as skin patches. Whenever necessary, one DA agent can be changed safely overnight to another one.