According to a story from Parkinson’s News Today, an analysis of results from several different clinical trials suggests that the drug istradefylline (marketed as Nourianz) can reduce the duration of “off periods” in Parkinson’s disease patients being treated with carbidopa-levodopa. Off periods refer to a time between doses of levodopa in which symptoms are not well controlled and the impact of the drug disappears.
About Parkinson’s Disease
Parkinson’s disease is a type of long term, progressive, degenerative illness that affects the central nervous system. Symptoms tend to develop over a period of years and primarily affect the movement ability and mental state of the patient. The cause of Parkinson’s disease remains a mystery, although there are a number of risk factors that have been identified. These factors include head injuries, pesticide exposure, and certain genetic variants and mutations. About 15 percent of patients have a close relative with the disease, suggesting some genetic connection. Symptoms include slowed movements, poor coordination, trouble walking, shaking, stiffness, abnormal posture, depression, anxiety, inhibited thinking, hallucinations, and dementia. Treatment may involve a number of medications, rehabilitation, and surgical operations. Survival rate varies, but most patients survive around a decade after getting diagnosed. To learn more about Parkinson’s disease, click here.
Nourianz and Dyskinesia
Off periods tend to appear in patients who have been treated with carbidopa-levodopa for a longer period of time. Nourianz is currently approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as a treatment for off periods; however, the medication is known to cause dyskinesia (involuntary muscle movement) as a side effect. However, this is also a symptom of the disease itself. The goal of the analysis, which included eight studies and data from 2,719 patients, was to investigate if pre-existing dyskinesia had an impact on the benefit of Nourianz.
Thankfully the analysis suggested that the drug could be effective regardless of the presence of pre-existing dyskinesia. However, patients with dyskinesia were more likely to experience it while using the therapy than those who didn’t have the symptom previously. The findings should serve to inform treatment decisions going forward.
