The Prevalence and Aetiology of Long-term L-Dopa Side-effects in Elderly Parkinsonian Patients

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Abstract
Fifty-one elderly parkinsonian patients (mean age 80 years) on long-term (>5 years) L-dopa therapy were identified from the patients within the three geriatric units in Edinburgh. Side-effects were identified in 57% of patients and tended to be mild in severity. Mean duration of disease was 10.2 years in those with side-effects and 6.7 years in those without (p<0.01). Past and present L-dopa side-effects are more likely to be caused by disease progression than by L-dopa therapy. It is therefore recommended that L-dopa should be prescribed at disease onset to elderly Parkinsonian patients.