Bromocriptine and lisuride in Parkinson disease

Abstract

Lisuride was compared with bromocriptine in 25 parkinsonian patients in whom the response to levodopa had diminished; 19 had “wearing off,” “on‐off” phenomena, or both. At the time bromocriptine was added to levodopa, the mean age of the patients was 62.7 years and mean disease duration was 8.9 years. Disability decreased by 34% in the on period and by 20% in the off period, and the number of hours the patients were on increased from 9.6 to 12.8. All these changes were significant (p ≤ 0.01 to 0.05). Bromocriptine, however, had to be discontinued in 11 patients because of adverse effects. In the remaining 14 patients, bromocriptine was eventually discontinued because of decreased efficacy. Mean dose of bromocriptine was 55 mg (range, 20 to 100 mg). At the time lisuride was added to levodopa the patients were older (65.4 years), had had the disease longer (11.4 years), and were more disabled. Nonetheless, disability decreased in the on period by 33% and in the off period by 17%, and the number of hours the patients were on increased from 3.9 to 8.9. All these changes were significant (p ≤ 0.01 to 0.05). The mean dose of lisuride was 2.8 mg (range, 0.6 to 5.0 mg). Lisuride was discontinued in 8 patients because of adverse effects. Both bromocriptine and lisuride are useful in managing patients with advanced Parkinson disease whose response to levodopa has diminished. While it is presently not possible to state which of the drugs is more effective, ultimately their usage will probably be determined by their relative cost.