The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 270 No 7253 p821
14 June 2003

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Nature Medicine abstract (more)

New approach may correct Parkinson's drug side effects

Combining levodopa with compounds that bind to the D₃ dopamine receptor may alleviate side effects of therapy for Parkinson's disease.

Treatment of Parkinson's disease with L-dopa initially reduces motor symptoms but, in most patients, eventually induces dyskinesia, possibly as a result of excess dopamine.

Researchers from centres in France and Germany have found that, in a primate model of Parkinson's disease, treatment with L-dopa also specifically increases expression of the D₃ dopamine receptor. Using L-dopa in combination with a compound that binds to the receptor (a D₃ receptor selective partial agonist), they were able to eliminate dyskinesia without losing the beneficial effects of the drug (Nature Medicine 2003;9:762).