Download PDF
Semin Neurol 2001; 21(1): 009-014
DOI: 10.1055/s-2001-13114
Copyright © 2001 by Thieme Medical Publishers, Inc., 333 Seventh Avenue, New York, NY 10001, USA. Tel.: +1(212) 584-4662

Dopamine Agonists

Paul Tuite, Brenda Ebbitt
  • Department of Neurology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota
Further Information

Publication History

Publication Date:
31 December 2001 (online)

   Permissions and Reprints

ABSTRACT

Dopamine agonists provide an effective means of treating early, middle, and late stages of Parkinson's disease. This article outlines the advantages and disadvantages of dopamine agonists as compared with levodopa therapy. The features and costs of the four Food and Drug Administration-approved agonists (bromocriptine, pergolide, pramipexole, and ropinirole) and apomorphine, another agonist presently under investigation, are discussed.

KEYWORD

Dopamine agonists - Parkinson's disease - Parkinson's disease treatment

REFERENCES

  • 1 Tanaka M, Sotomatsu A, Kanai H. Dopa and dopamine cause cultured neuronal death in the presence of iron.  J Neurol Sci . 1991;  101 198-203
    CrossrefPubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 2 Walkinshaw G, Waters C M. Induction of apoptosis in catecholaminergic PC 12 cells by L-dopa: implications for the treatment of Parkinson's disease.  J Clin Invest . 1995;  95 2458-2464
    PubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 3 Agid Y. Levodopa: is toxicity a myth?.  Neurology . 1998;  50 858-863
    PubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 4 Watts R L. The role of dopamine agonists in early Parkinson's disease.  Neurology . 1997;  S34-S48 (S34-S48)
    PubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 5 Pearce R KB, Banerji T, Jenner P. Effects of repeated treatment with L-dopa, bromocriptine and ropinirole in drug-naive MPTP-treated common marmosets.  Br J Pharmacol . 1996;  118 37
    PubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 6 Bedard P J, Gomez-Mancilla B, Blanchet P. Dopamine agonists as first line therapy of parkinsonism in MPTP monkeys. In: Olanow CW, Obeso JA, eds. Dopamine Agonists in Early Parkinson's Disease Kent, UK: Wells Medical 1997: 101-113
    Search in Google Scholar
  • 7 Chase T N. The significance of continuous dopaminergic stimulation in the treatment of Parkinson's disease.  Drugs . 1998;  55 S1-S9
    PubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 8 Chase T N, Engber T M, Mouradian M M. Palliative and prophylactic benefits of continuously administered dopaminomimetics in Parkinson's disease.  Neurology . 1994;  44 S15-S18
    PubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 9 Lees A J, Stern G M. Sustained bromocriptine therapy in previously untreated patients with Parkinson's disease.  J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry . 1981;  44 1020-1023
    PubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 10 Kulisevsky J, Lopez-Villegas D, Garcia-Sanchez C. A six month study of pergolide and levodopa in de novo Parkinson's disease patients.  Clin Neuropharmacol . 1998;  21 358-362
    PubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 11 Adler C H, Sethi K D, Hauser R A. Ropinirole for the treatment of early Parkinson's disease.  Neurology . 1997;  49 393-399
    PubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 12 Kreider M, Knox S, Gardiner D. A multicenter double-blind study of ropinirole as an adjunct to L-dopa in Parkinson's disease.  Neurology . 1996;  46 A475
    PubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 13 Parkinson Study Group. Safety and efficacy of pramipexole in early Parkinson's disease: a randomized dose-ranging study.  JAMA . 1997;  278 125-130
    CrossrefPubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 14 Shannon K M. New alternatives for the management of early Parkinson's disease (PD).  Mov Disord . 1996;  11 S266
    PubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 15 Carrion A, Weiner W J, Shulman L M. A three and a half-year experience with pramipexole monotherapy in patients with early Parkinson's disease.  Neurology . 1998;  50 A330
    PubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 16 Poewe W. Should treatment of Parkinson's disease be started with a dopamine agonist?.  Neurology . 1998;  51 S21-S24
    PubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 17 Olanow C W, Fahn S, Muenter M. A multicenter double-blind placebo-controlled trial of pergolide as an adjunct to Sinemet in Parkinson's disease.  Mov Disord . 1994;  9 40-47
    CrossrefPubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 18 Assal F, Spahr L, Hadengue A. Tolcapone and fulminant hepatitis.  Lancet . 1998;  352 958
    PubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 19 Stern M B. Contemporary approaches to the pharmacotherapeutic management of Parkinson's disease: an overview.  Neurology . 1997;  S2-S9 (S2-S9)
    PubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 20 Corrodi M, Fuxe K, Hokfelt T. Effect of ergot drugs on central catecholaminergic neurons: evidence for stimulation of central dopamine neurons.  J Pharm Pharmacol . 1973;  25 409-412
    PubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 21 Calne D B, Teychenne P F, Claveria L E. Bromocriptine in parkinsonism.  BMJ . 1974;  4 442-444
    PubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 22 Kartsinel R, Teychenne P, Gillespie M M. Bromocriptine and levodopa (with or without carbidopa) in parkinsonism.  Lancet . 1976;  2 272-275
    PubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 23 Lieberman A, Kupersmith M, Estey E. Treatment of Parkinson's disease with bromocriptine.  N Engl J Med . 1976;  295 1400-1404
    PubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 24 Pezzoli G, Martignoni E, Pacchetti, et al. A crossover, controlled study comparing pergolide with bromocriptine as an adjunct to levodopa for the treatment of Parkinson's disease.  Neurology. 1995;  S22-S27
    PubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 25 Goetz C G, Tanner C M, Glantz R H. Chronic agonist therapy for Parkinson's disease: a 5-year study of bromocriptine and pergolide.  Neurology. 1985;  35 749-751
    PubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 26 Lieberman A N, Neophytides A, Leibowitz M. Comparative efficacy of pergolide and bromocriptine in patients with advanced Parkinson's disease.  Adv Neurol . 1983;  37 95-108
    PubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 27 Shannon K M, Bennett Jr P J, Friedman J H. Efficacy of pramipexole, a novel dopamine agonist, as monotherapy in mild to moderate Parkinson's disease. The Pramipexole Study Group.  Neurology . 1997;  49 724-728
    CrossrefPubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 28 Hubble J P, Koller W C, Cutler N R. Pramipexole in patients with early Parkinson's disease.  Clin Neuropharmacol . 1995;  18 338-347
    PubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 29 Guttman M. Double-blind comparison of pramipexole and bromocriptine treatment with placebo in advanced Parkinson's disease. International Pramipexole-Bromocriptine Study Group.  Neurology . 1997;  49 1060-1065
    PubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 30 Lieberman A, Ranhosky A, Korts D. Clinical evaluation of pramipexole in advanced Parkinson's disease: results of a double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group study.  Neurology . 1997;  49 162-168
    CrossrefPubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 31 Molho E S, Factor S A, Weiner W J. The use of pramipexole, a novel dopamine (DA) agonist, in advanced Parkinson's disease.  J Neural Transm . 1995;  45 S225-S230
    PubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 32 Sethi K D, O'Brien C F, Hammerstad J P. Ropinirole for the treatment of early Parkinson disease: a 12-month experience. Ropinirole Study Group.  Arch Neurol . 1998;  55 1211-1216
    CrossrefPubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 33 Brooks D J, Abbott R J, Lees A J. A placebo-controlled evaluation of ropinirole, a novel D2 agonist, as sole dopaminergic therapy in Parkinson's disease.  Clin Neuropharmacol . 1998;  21 101-107
    PubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 34 Korczyn A D, Brooks D J, Brunt E R. Ropinirole versus bromocriptine in the treatment of early Parkinson's disease: a 6-month interim report of a 3-year study. 053 Study Group.  Mov Disord . 1998;  13 46-51
    CrossrefPubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 35 Rascol O, Brooks D J, Brunt E R. Ropinirole in the treatment of early Parkinson's disease: a 6-month interim report of a 5-year levodopa-controlled study. 056 Study Group.  Mov Disord . 1998;  13 39-45
    CrossrefPubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 36 Brooks D J, Tornjanski N, Burn D J. Ropinirole in the symptomatic treatment of Parkinson's disease.  J Neural Transm . 1995;  45 S231-S238
    PubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 37 Rascol O, Lees A J, Senard J M. Ropinirole in the treatment of levodopa-induced motor fluctuations in patients with Parkinson's disease.  Clin Neuropharmacol . 1996;  19 234-245
    PubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 38 Pryse-Phillips W. Companion to Clinical Neurology.  Boston: Little, Brown 1995: 303-304
    Search in Google Scholar
  • 39 Rinne U. Pleuropulmonary changes during long term bromocriptine treatment for Parkinson's disease.  Lancet . 1981;  3 44-45
    PubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 40 Shaunak S, Wilkins A, Pilling J B. Pericardial, retroperitoneal, and pleural fibrosis induced by pergolide.  J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry . 1999;  66 79-81
    PubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 41 Rajput A H. Adverse effects of ergot-derivative dopamine agonists. In: Olanow CW, Obeso JA, eds. Dopamine Agonists in Early Parkinson's Disease Kent, UK: Wells Medical 1997: 209-216
    Search in Google Scholar
  • 42 Sibley D R, Monsma Jr J F. Molecular biology of dopamine receptors.  Trends Pharmacol Sci . 1992;  13 61-69
    CrossrefPubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 43 Robertson H A. Dopamine receptor interactions: some implications for the treatment of Parkinson's disease.  Trends Neurosci . 1992;  15 201-205
    CrossrefPubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 44 Piercey M F. Pharmacology of pramipexole, a dopamine D3-preferring agonist useful in treating Parkinson's disease.  Clin Neuropharmacol . 1998;  21 141-151
    PubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 45 Frucht S, Rogers J D, Greene P E. Falling asleep at the wheel: motor vehicle mishaps in persons taking pramipexole and ropinirole.  Neurology . 1999;  52 1908-1910
    PubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 46 Weill E. De l'apomorphine dans certains troubles nerveux.  Lyon Med . 1884;  48 411-419
    PubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 47 Schwab R S, Mador L V, Levine J Y. Apomorphine in Parkinson's disease.  Trans Am Neurol Assoc . 1951;  76 273-279
    PubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 48 Cotzias G C, Papavasiliou P S, Tolosa E S. Treatment of Parkinson disease with apomorphines: possible role of growth hormone.  N Engl J Med . 1976;  294 567-572
    PubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 49 Ondo W G, Hunter C, Almaguer M. A novel sublingual apomorphine treatment for patients with fluctuating Parkinson's disease.  Mov Disord . 1999;  14 664-668
    CrossrefPubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 50 Ogawa N. Early introduction of dopamine agonists in the long-term treatment of Parkinson's disease.  Neurology . 1998;  51 S13-S20
    PubMedSearch in Google Scholar
  • 51 Piccoli F, Riuggeri R M. Dopaminergic agonists in the treatment of Parkinson's disease: a review.  J Neural Transm . 1995;  45 S187-S195
    PubMedSearch in Google Scholar