Abstract
Objective: To evaluate ropinirole hydrochloride as dopaminergic monotherapy in patients with early Parkinson disease. Design: A 6-month extension of a double-blind, placebo-controlled study. Setting: Ambulatory care at 22 different sites in the United States. Patients: Patients who successfully completed the initial 6-month study could enter the 6-month extension study (ropinirole, n = 70; placebo, n = 77). Intervention: Use of ropinirole or placebo therapy. Main Outcome Measures: The efficacy variables were the number of patients who successfully completed the 12-month study and did not require supplemental levodopa, the number of patients requiring supplemental levodopa, and the proportion of patients having an insufficient therapeutic response. Results: Significantly fewer ropinirole-treated patients met criteria for insufficient therapeutic response (23 [19.8%] of 116) or required the initiation of levodopa therapy (22 [19%] of 116) compared with placebo-treated patients (60 [48%] of 125 patients for insufficient therapeutic response; 57 [45.6%] of 125 patients for additional levodopa). Significantly more ropinirole-treated patients (51 [44.0%] of 116) successfully completed the 12-month study and did not require supplemental levodopa compared with placebo-treated patients (28 [22.4%] of 125). The incidence of adverse experiences and patient withdrawals was low. Conclusion: Ropinirole was effective and well tolerated as monotherapy for 12 months in patients with early Parkinson disease.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 1211-1216 |
Number of pages | 6 |
Journal | Archives of Neurology |
Volume | 55 |
Issue number | 9 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Sep 1998 |
Externally published | Yes |
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Arts and Humanities (miscellaneous)
- Clinical Neurology