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22 Parkinson's patients on dangerous drug Karl Schembri A total of 22 Parkinson's Disease patients are currently being given the controversial drug Pergolide from the government pharmacy, while another 1,229 are registered as Parkinson's sufferers, Health Division figures reveal. Pergolide has been found to damage heart valves and is potentially fatal, especially among patients suffering from heart ailments. But despite promises to replace the drug with alternative medication, the government is still evaluating tender proposals and at least another two months are needed until the process is finalised and a new drug is made available. Patients who spoke to MaltaToday, and who shifted over to alternative drug Requip on their neurologists' advice, claim to have been paying up to Lm60 monthly. Until the drug is made available through the health service, they will have to pay steadily more as the dosage is increased over time. A health department spokesman said that Permax "can be used with caution in most patients with Parkinson's Disease," but added that "it is absolutely contra-indicated in patients suffering from fibrosis and cardiac valvulopathy. "Pergolide is a licensed Medicinal Product indicated as a 2nd line treatment for parkinsons. Its use is to be based on a case by case evaluation by doctors. Following the review of cardiovascular concerns, the benefit-risk evaluation of this drug is still found to be positive if the drug is used in line with its Summary of Product Characteristics. The spokesman added that once the government starts receiving supplies of the new drug, it will be made available to: i) all new patients starting treatment with a dopamine agonist; ii) patients for whom pergolide is contra-indicated as they suffer from fibrosis or cardiac problems; iii) young patients and patients below 60 years of age who are already on treatment with pergolide. Further information can be found on the medicines Authority's website: www.medicinesauthority.gov.mt/pssafety.htm www.maltatoday.com.mt/2007/02/11/t2.html ---------------------------------------------------------------------- To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: mailto:[log in to unmask] In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn