BROMOCRIPTINE IN THE TREATMENT OF ADVANCED PARKINSONISM

Abstract
The dopaminergic agonist bromocriptine in doses of 2.5-40 mg was compared with placebo in a double-blind cross-over study (12 + 12 wk) in 11 Parkinson patients. A bothering dyskinesia appeared after prolonged L-dopa treatment, limiting the L-dopa dose to a level where Parkinson symptoms were still present to an unsatisfactory degree. Based on changes in rating scales and the patients'' preference, bromocriptine was significantly superior to placebo. Dyskinesia, occurring during bromocriptine treatment in 9 of 11 patients, disappeared within the period of study in 6 patients after dose reduction, without changes in Parkinson disability scores, to placebo level. Bromocriptine seemed to be of value in cases where the balance between minimal dyskinesia and Parkinson symptoms was impossible to obtain with L-dopa treatment alone.