Dopamine agonists in the treatment of Parkinson's disease: the show must go on

Abstract

Dopamine agonists (DA) have proven very successful in the treatment of Parkinson’s disease for a good many years now. In the 1990’s they experienced a high level of acceptance particularly in the European countries because their efficacy was in fact established, their tolerability was improved on and, in addition, several preparations were available with longer effect durations. But the discovery of cardiac fibroses led to a substantial setback and even rejection of therapy using ergoline DA. In recent years, impulse control disturbances have been observed increasingly with the result that higher doses have been reduced and the previously popular use of non-ergoline DA was discontinued. In addition, newer data on levodopa were published which clearly relativized the occurrence of late complications under levodopa and led to a differentiated use. Thus the importance of their use has waned over the years. But we should rather avoid repeating the mistakes of the past. DA serve us well and reliably so. The pendulum apparently thrives of the extremes but in the case of DA we should keep from falling back into the other extreme: We can and in fact must further make use of the DA, but with a clear view of specific goals and in a differentiated way. DA constitute the second-most important substance class after levodopa. Their optimized application can only be recommended for the good of our patients.