Night-time use of rotigotine in advanced Parkinson's disease

Transdermal rotigotine was used in six patients with advanced Parkinson's disease and sleep disorders (UPDRS part II item 12 score ≥ 2) receiving oral levodopa and diurnal apomorphine infusions. Transdermal rotigotine (2-4 mg/24h) was used at night for four months. Sleep disorders improved, the total Parkinson's Disease Sleep Scale score falling by an average of 45%; significant improvements emerged in the items quality of sleep and difficulty in remaining asleep (p<0.05). No undesirable dopaminergic effects were reported. This preliminary open-label study suggests that transdermal rotigotine may be a well tolerated and effective treatment in patients with advanced Parkinson's disease, reducing nocturnal disability and ameliorating sleep disorders without inducing undesirable dopaminergic effects.