Antiparkinsonian

The antiparkinsonian agents are medicines used to treat Parkinson's Disease and its consequences. There are now five main categories of these.

The different antiparkinsonian agents

• Levodopa (L-dopa) is the most commonly used antiparkinsonian medicine . This is converted into synthetic dopamine in the patient's body. It does, however, cause many central nervous system complications: motor fluctuations, involuntary movements and drowsiness.
• The dopamine agonists act directly on the dopamine receptors. These synthetic compounds are administered in association with L-dopa and mimic the action of dopamine.
• MAO-B (monoamine oxidase B) inhibitors reduce the degradation of dopamine.
• Catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) inhibitors have the same effect as the MAO-B inhibitors. They therefore increase the effectiveness of dopamine.
• The anticholinergics are being used increasingly less.

Sources:

• Interview with Jean-Philippe Brandel, neurologist at the Léopold Bellan Hospital, Paris, on www.infopatients-lundbeck.fr , 7 July 2011
• MyPDinfo.com, 7 July 2011