In the May Issue of Prevention Magazine, Page 131, there is a short
article in Medical-Care News by Yun Lee Wolfe, entitled, "Smoother Moves".
"Drug improves current Parkinson's treatment. If a new drug, tolcapone,
is approved, it should help three out of four people with the disease
better manage their symptoms. Current treatment for Parkinson's relies
primarily on the drug levodopa, which typically loses its effectiveness
after a few years. Scientists hope tolcapone (brand name Tasmar) can
improve and extend levodopa's efficacy.
In one 151-person study, people who took tolcapone had a 25% increase in
the periods when levodopa was working and a 40% decrease when it wasn't,
compared with people on placebo.
"These numbers can mean the difference between being able to do household
chores or run an errand or not," says Matthias C. Kurth, MD, PhD, study
leader, Barrows Neurological Institute in Phoenix (Neurology, January 1997).
Its primary side effect is involuntary jerky movements. Adjusting the
dosage of levodopa should help manage these symptons, says Dr. Kurth.
FDA approval for the drug is expected late this year, according to the
manufacturer."
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Barbara Patterson [log in to unmask]
HSC 2J22 905-525-9140, ext. 22403
School of Nursing
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