Alpha-Dihydroergocryptin

Zusammenfassung

Alpha-Dihydroergocryptin (DEC, Almirid® ist ein semisynthetisches Ergolinderivat, das als Dopaminagonist zur Behandlung des idiopathischen Morbus Parkinson bei Patienten ohne Fluktuationen im Krankheitsbild in Kombination mit Levodopa zugelassen ist. Erste Studienergebnisse weisen darauf hin, dass DEC auch bei Patienten mit Fluktuationen wirksam ist und in der Monotherapie bei neu diagnostizierten Patienten eingesetzt werden kann.

Summary

Alpha-dihydroergocryptine is a dopamine agonist effective at D₁ receptors and especially at D₂ receptors. It is characterised by a therapeutically appropriate half-life of 16 hours. Clinical efficacy has been verified in comparison to placebo and other dopamine agonists and confirmed by practical experiences. The efficacy is comparable to bromocriptine and lisurid, but the compatibility seems to be better in respect of side effects of „arterial hypotonia” as well as „hallucinations”. This aspect is of special relevance for use in the early combination with L-dopa, but even more so in the therapy of late-stage parkinson's disease because besides the off-latencies the daily L-dopa dose might also be reduced by about 20 - 30%. Alpha-dihydroergocryptine (DEC) is suitable especially for elderly multimorbid parkinson patients because of its better compatibility, since this group of patients often suffer from side effects.