To print: Select File and then Print from your browser's menu --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Title: Ropinirole Effective Treatment For Early Parkinson's Disease URL: http://www.pslgroup.com/dg/3664A.htm Doctor's Guide September 2, 1997
SCOTTSDALE, AZ. -- September 2, 1997 -- Ropinirole is an effective treatment for controlling motor symptoms of patients with early Parkinson's disease, according to a study published in this month's issue of Neurology. A six-month study showed that patients treated with ropinirole demonstrated a statistically significant improvement in motor function. Ropinirole appears to be an effective therapeutic option for the treatment of Parkinson's disease and demonstrates a favorable safety and tolerability profile, states lead author Charles H. Adler, M.D., Ph.D., associate professor of neurology, Mayo Medical School and consultant in neurology, department of neurology, Mayo Clinic Scottsdale, AZ. As a result, he adds, it seems reasonable to consider the use of ropinirole as a levodopa sparing strategy for managing Parkinson's disease. The double-blind, placebo-controlled study randomized 241 patients with mild-to-moderate (early) Parkinson's disease to received either ropinirole or placebo. Results were obtained using the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS). Physicians measured the overall change they saw in their patients' motor function after six months. Patients treated with ropinirole demonstrated a 24 percent improvement in UPDRS motor score, while placebo-treated patients demonstrated a three prevent worsening in motor score. In addition, 33 percent of patients treated with ropinirole were rated as either "very much improved" or "much improved" on the Clinical Global Impressions (GCI) improvement item compared to 12 percent of placebo-treated patients. According to Dr. Adler, newer dopamine agonists not only provide physicians with a new treatment approach, but they also offer several treatment advantages. Unlike older dopamine agonists, these new drugs have demonstrated clinical efficacy in controlled trials in the early stages of the disease. In addition they may offer a better side effect profile. Ropinirole was well-tolerated over entire six month period. The most common adverse experiences were nausea, dizziness and somnolence, which were primarily related to the stimulation of dopamine receptors. Early this year, results from a six month extension to this study were presented at the 1997 American Academy of Neurology meeting. The study demonstrated that ropinirole effectively controlled motor symptoms of early Parkinson's disease over a twelve month period. A Progressive Neurodegenerative Disorder Parkinson's disease, which affects between 500,000 and 1,000,000 Americans, is a chronic and progressive neurological disorder that causes tremors, rigidity of the muscles and other severe motor impairments. Parkinson's disease results from the death of nerve cells in a critical area of the brain called the substantia nigra. These nerve cells normally produce dopamine, a chemical messenger that plays an important role in motor control by transmitting signals between the substantia nigra and another critical area of the brain called the striatum. Dopamine depletion results in an impaired ability to initiate and control movements. A Need For New Agents to Treat Early Parkinson's Disease One strategy for treating Parkinson's disease is to address the dopamine deficiency through medications that either replace dopamine or mimic its effects. Levodopa, which is a precursor of dopamine, is administered as a form of replacement therapy. Although this drug is very effective initially, after long-term use many patients develop disabling side effects which include dyskinesias (involuntary movements such as twitching, nodding or jerking), neuropsychiatric problems (e.g. hallucinations) and fluctuations of motor response. Dopamine agonists mimic the effects of dopamine by binding to and stimulating dopamine receptors in the brain. A reduced level of dopamine at these receptors is believed to cause the motor symptoms of Parkinson's disease. Clinical studies have shown the effectiveness of ropinirole in improving the motor symptoms of Parkinson's disease, either as early monotherapy or in the later stages as adjunctive therapy with levodopa in patients experiencing motor fluctuations. Ropinirole (Requip(TM), SmithKline Beecham) is currently under review at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for treatment of Parkinson's disease, both as early monotherapy and as adjunctive treatment with levodopa. More information on: Ropinirole, SmithKline Beecham --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Copyright © 1999 P\S\L Consulting Group Inc. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of P\S\L content is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of P\S\L. P\S\L shall not be liable for any errors, omissions or delays in this content or any other content on its sites, newsletters or other publications, nor for any decisions or actions taken in reliance on such content. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- This news story was printed from *Doctor's Guide to the Internet* located at http://www.docguide.com --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Return to News Story Page This site is maintained by webmaster@pslgroup.com Please contact us with any comments, problems or bugs. All contents Copyright (c) 1998 P\S\L Consulting Group Inc. All rights reserved.