Workshop IV: drug treatment guidelines for the long-term management of Parkinson's disease.
An attempt was made to establish a decision algorithm for the treatment of idiopathic Parkinson's disease at various stages and in different subgroups such as akinetic-rigid or tremor dominance type. We suggest treating young patients with selegiline and a dopamine agonist. In the tremor dominance type we use either budipine or a dopamine agonist. Due to levodopa-induced dyskinesia, we try to avoid levodopa in the early stages of the disease and use it only later in more advanced situations in a combination therapy with dopamine agonists. Since IPS is not only based upon dopamine deficiency but also on resulting glutamatergic overstimulation, we advocate the use of a glutamate antagonist such as amantadine or budipine. Catechol-O-methyl inhibitors are very helpful when wearing-off occurs. Anticholinergics are only used in the early stages of tremor-dominant IPS because we fear enhancing the risk of dementia.