Improvement of motor function in early Parkinson disease by safinamide

Neurology. 2004 Aug 24;63(4):746-8. doi: 10.1212/01.wnl.0000134672.44217.f7.

Abstract

A median safinamide (SAF) dose of 70 mg/day (range 40 to 90 mg/day) increased the percentage of parkinsonian patients improving their motor scores by > or =30% from baseline (responders) after 3 months from 21.4% (placebo) to 37.5% (p < 0.05, calculated by logistic regression analysis). In a subgroup of 101 patients under stable treatment with a single dopamine agonist, addition of SAF magnified the response (47.1% responders, mean 4.7-point motor score decrease; p > or = 0.05). These results suggest that doses of SAF exerting ion channel block and glutamate release inhibition add to its symptomatic effect and warrant exploration of higher doses.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial
  • Multicenter Study
  • Randomized Controlled Trial
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Alanine / administration & dosage
  • Alanine / adverse effects
  • Alanine / analogs & derivatives*
  • Alanine / pharmacology
  • Alanine / therapeutic use*
  • Antiparkinson Agents / administration & dosage
  • Antiparkinson Agents / adverse effects
  • Antiparkinson Agents / pharmacology
  • Antiparkinson Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Benzylamines / administration & dosage
  • Benzylamines / adverse effects
  • Benzylamines / pharmacology
  • Benzylamines / therapeutic use*
  • Calcium Channel Blockers / administration & dosage
  • Calcium Channel Blockers / adverse effects
  • Calcium Channel Blockers / pharmacology
  • Calcium Channel Blockers / therapeutic use
  • Dopamine Agonists / pharmacology
  • Dopamine Agonists / therapeutic use*
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Double-Blind Method
  • Drug Synergism
  • Drug Therapy, Combination
  • Excitatory Amino Acid Antagonists / administration & dosage
  • Excitatory Amino Acid Antagonists / adverse effects
  • Excitatory Amino Acid Antagonists / pharmacology
  • Excitatory Amino Acid Antagonists / therapeutic use
  • Female
  • Gastrointestinal Diseases / chemically induced
  • Glutamic Acid / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Motor Activity / drug effects*
  • Neuroprotective Agents / administration & dosage
  • Neuroprotective Agents / adverse effects
  • Neuroprotective Agents / pharmacology
  • Neuroprotective Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Parkinson Disease / drug therapy*
  • Parkinson Disease / physiopathology
  • Sodium Channel Blockers / administration & dosage
  • Sodium Channel Blockers / adverse effects
  • Sodium Channel Blockers / pharmacology
  • Sodium Channel Blockers / therapeutic use
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Antiparkinson Agents
  • Benzylamines
  • Calcium Channel Blockers
  • Dopamine Agonists
  • Excitatory Amino Acid Antagonists
  • Neuroprotective Agents
  • Sodium Channel Blockers
  • Glutamic Acid
  • safinamide
  • Alanine