Piribedil as an adjunct to levodopa in advanced Parkinson's disease: the Asian experience

Parkinsonism Relat Disord. 2003 Dec;10(2):117-21. doi: 10.1016/s1353-8020(03)00096-8.

Abstract

Data on the efficacy and tolerability of piribedil in Asians are scarce. Forty-nine Filipino PD patients with motor fluctuations were enrolled in an 8-week trial of piribedil of up to 150 mg/day. Mean improvement was 48% for the motor UPDRS scores (tremor showed greatest change), and 43% for activities of daily living. Mean daily levodopa dose decreased by 17%, and mean duration of effect of levodopa increased by 1.3 h (45%). Most common side effects were hallucinations (20%), dyskinesias (20%), dizziness (8%), and sleepiness (6%). This trial shows that piribedil is effective and well-tolerated by Asian patients with advanced PD at least with short-term use.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial
  • Clinical Trial, Phase IV
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Asian People / genetics*
  • Drug Therapy, Combination
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Levodopa / therapeutic use*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Parkinson Disease / drug therapy*
  • Parkinson Disease / genetics*
  • Parkinson Disease / physiopathology
  • Piribedil / therapeutic use*
  • Prospective Studies
  • Statistics, Nonparametric

Substances

  • Levodopa
  • Piribedil