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My mother's doctor, Dr. Fazzini, was giving my mom Rilutek awhile back, not as a part of a formal study (as far as I know) but because he believes it helps slow the progress of Parkinson Plus diseases (striatonigral degeneration anyway). She was taking Efforex, Artane, Sinemet, and Requip at the time. Fazzini practices in several offices around the NYC area. (My mom went off the drug because she believed it wasn't doing anything good, was making her feel bad (tired, more internal tremors), and prohibitive in cost. Hope others have luck with it. Debbie White [log in to unmask] ---------- > From: Linda J Herman <[log in to unmask]> > To: [log in to unmask] > Subject: Re: Drug slows pace of Parkinsons > Date: Monday, February 15, 1999 7:29 AM > > Gail and listmembers, > Thanks Gail for posting this announcement. The Rilutek clinical trial > sounds promising - I was planning to call my doctor about it. But a > description of the trial from the NPF website (see below) specifies that > trial participants cannot currently be receiving any other drugs for > Parkinson's. There is more information at the Rilutek site and at > Centerwatch - which also lists other clinical trials currently taking > place. If anyone on the list is accepted for this study - please let > the rest of us know how it's going. > > Linda Herman > > [NPF] > > Parkinson's Disease Patients Sought For Phase III Clinical Trial > > --------------------------------------------------------- > > Parkinson's patients are currently being sought for enrollment in a > nationwide, multi-center Phase III clinical trial examining the potential > to delay the progression of the disease. Patients, ages 40-80, with > recent, > untreated symptoms are being sought at 43 clinical site locations in the > United States. > > Research with experimental Parkinson's disease animal models suggests > that > Rilutek (riluzole) tablets, the first drug approved for treating > amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), or Lou Gehrig's disease, could have > a > neuroprotective effect in Parkinson's disease by preventing, halting or > slowing down the rate of nerve cell death. The drug's exact mechanism of > action is unknown. > > Patients enrolled in the Phase III clinical trial will receive treatment > (riluzole or placebo) for two years. Riluzole was approved for ALS in the > U.S. in 1995 and has since been approved in 44 other countries. The > drug's > most common side effects in ALS patients are asthenia (fatigue), nausea, > and elevated liver enzymes. Side effects in patients with Parkinson's are > not known. > > Participants in the study must: Be 40-80 years of age with symptoms > present > for less than 3 years Have a diagnosis of Parkinson's syndrome with at > least two of the following three symptoms: resting tremor, rigidity or > slowness Not be currently receiving medication for treatment of > Parkinson's > disease (participants will be allowed to start other medications during > the > study) > > Patient recruitment for the trial is underway via a toll-free 800 number. > Individuals meeting the study's requirements are encouraged to call and > enroll. To learn the location of a study site and additional enrollment > criteria, please call 1-800-220-8610 or visit Centerwatch at > http://www.centerwatch.com RPR's Internet website at > http://www.rp-rorer.com/us/rilutek/trials.html. > > -------------------------------------- > > Documents of Similar Interest: > > Parkinson's patients needed for clinical trial > Study To Examine Medication's Effects on Patients' Daily Living > Activities > > Volunteers Needed to Participate in a Parkinson's Disease > Transplantation Study > To evaluate an investigational therapy for the treatment of > Parkinson's disease. > > Participation In Research Requested > A research project directed towards identifying a gene that can > cause the disease. > > Parkinson's Disease Drug Studies > > Parkinson's Disease Surgical Studies > > Clinical Study - selegiline > Study to investigate a new formulation of the medication > selegiline. > > -------------------------------------- > > [Back] Go Back [Home] NPF Home Page