LONG-TERM TOLERABILITY AND EFFICACY OF CABERGOLINE, A NEW LONG-ACTING DOPAMINE AGONIST, IN PARKINSONS-DISEASE

Motor fluctuations constitute a severe complication of chronic levodopa therapy. The addition of dopamine agonists may partially alleviate these responses; however, due to the short half-life of these drugs, several daily doses are required. Cabergoline is a new dopamine agonist with a long half-life and can be given in a single daily dose. Seventeen patients with severe fluctuations were treated with cabergoline, seven of them for >1 year (up to 39 months). The motor status ameliorated and the percentage of ''off'' hours significantly decreased in the first year and did not increase significantly later during long-term follow-up. Cabergoline is a promising treatment for parkinsonian patients with motor fluctuations.