Levodopa/DDCI and entacapone is the preferred treatment for Parkinson's disease patients with motor fluctuations in routine practice: a retrospective, observational analysis of a large French cohort

Eur J Neurol. 2008 Jul;15(7):643-8. doi: 10.1111/j.1468-1331.2008.02165.x.

Abstract

Levodopa is the gold standard drug for the symptomatic control of Parkinson's disease (PD). However, long-term treatment with conventional formulations [levodopa and a dopa decarboxylase inhibitor (DDCI)], is associated with re-emergence of symptoms because of wearing-off and dyskinesia. Treatment with levodopa/DDCI and entacapone extends the half-life of levodopa, avoiding deep troughs in levodopa plasma levels and providing more continuous delivery of levodopa to the brain. In this open-label, retrospective, observational study we investigated the effects of levodopa/DDCI and entacapone therapy in 800 PD patients with motor fluctuations. Levodopa/DDCI and entacapone treatment was assessed as good/very good in improving motor fluctuations (64%) and activities of daily living (ADL; 62%). The therapeutic utility was considered to be good/very good in 70% of cases. Moreover, there was a reduction in levodopa dose in 20% of patients. Neurologists preferred levodopa/DDCI and entacapone compared with increasing levodopa dosage, dose-fractionation or addition of a dopamine agonist (63%, 29% and 23% of patients respectively). Reasons included achieving more continuous dopaminergic stimulation (40%), reducing motor fluctuations (54%) and improving ADL (41%). This analysis reveals the preference of neurologists for levodopa/DDCI and entacapone over conventional levodopa-modification strategies for the effective treatment of PD motor fluctuations in clinical practice.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Activities of Daily Living
  • Aged
  • Antiparkinson Agents / administration & dosage*
  • Catechols / administration & dosage*
  • Dopa Decarboxylase / administration & dosage*
  • Drug Therapy, Combination
  • Dyskinesia, Drug-Induced / prevention & control
  • Enzyme Inhibitors / administration & dosage
  • Female
  • France
  • Humans
  • Levodopa / administration & dosage*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Nitriles / administration & dosage*
  • Parkinson Disease / drug therapy*
  • Practice Patterns, Physicians'
  • Retrospective Studies

Substances

  • Antiparkinson Agents
  • Catechols
  • Enzyme Inhibitors
  • Nitriles
  • Levodopa
  • entacapone
  • Dopa Decarboxylase