Parkinson’s disease, a common neurodegenerative disorder, is treatable. The current treatment strategy is focused on dopamine replacement. Every patient will eventually receive levodopa which is the gold standard therapy, but it is associated with motor complication in a later phase. Using other dopaminergic medications as the first line treatment to avoid levodopa usage may reduce motor complication, but they are less efficacious in symptomatic control. However, in the later stage of the disease, patients often need other medications to optimize dopaminergic transmission. Dopamine agonist (DA), monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAO-BI) and catechol-o-methyl-transferase inhibitors (COMTI) are standard adjunctive medications in patients who have levodopa- induced motor complication.
Parkinson’s disease, levodopa, dopamine agonist, motor complication
10.31524/bkkmedj.2015.09.012