Mesulergine and bromocriptine in long-term treatment of advanced parkinsonism

24 levodopa pretreated patients with advanced parkinsonism were split into two equal groups receiving mesulergine or bromocriptine respectively as an adjuvant therapy. The trial was carried out under double blind conditions the first three months and then continued as an open trial for one year. Clinical benefit was similar in both groups with minor differences in regard to single symptoms. While bromocriptine showed a beginning decline in efficacy after one year, mesulergine showed no decline. The mean mesulergine-dose, necessary to achieve good clinical improvement, was about half of bromocriptine. Side-effects were similar, except orthostatic hypotension requiring vasopressor medication, which was less frequent in mesulergine treated patients. This advantage of mesulergine might be explained by its special pharmacological pattern with biphasic action on dopaminergic receptors.