Parkinson's disease: Cogentin with Sinemet, a better response

1. A randomized, placebo controlled, double-blind cross-over study was conducted to evaluate the clinical efficacy of the anticholinergic agent, benztropine mesylate (CogentinR) in 29 patients with mild to moderate, idiopathic Parkinson disease. 2. Patients were maintained on a stable, therapeutically optimal dosage and schedule of levadopa-carbidopa (Sinemet) throughout the study. 3. Both the neurologist's and the patient's global assessments of treatment efficacy indicated that Sinemet plus benztropine mesylate resulted in significantly greater improvement than Sinemet plus placebo. 4. Qualitative and quantitative evaluations of relevant neurologic functions showed small, but statistically significant improvements for rigidity, finger tapping speed and activities of daily living in patients during the Sinemet plus benztropine mesylate treatment period. 5. At the completion of the study 16 patients chose to continue taking benztropine mesylate as an adjuvant to Sinemet. 6. No important adverse side effects occurred during the study.