PARKINSON'S DISEASE NEWS

18th April 2010 - New research

GLYCOPYRROLATE FOR SIALORRHEA IN PARKINSON'S DISEASE

Neurology [2010] 74 (15) : 1203-1207 (Arbouw ME, Movig KL, Koopmann M, Poels PJ, Guchelaar HJ, Egberts TC, Neef C, van Vugt JP)  Complete abstract
                                                                                                                                                                                
Sialorrhea (excessive saliva) affects 3 out of every 4  people with Parkinson's Disease. Sialorrhea is often treated with anticholinergics, but side effects limit their usefulness. Glycopyrrolate (glycopyrronium bromide) is an anticholinergic drug that is not able to cross the blood-brain barrier in considerable amounts. Therefore, glycopyrrolate exhibits minimal central nervous system side effects, which may be an advantage in people with Parkinson's Disease. In a clinical trial the severity of the sialorrhea was scored on a daily basis by the patients or a caregiver with a sialorrhea scoring scale ranging from 1 (no sialorrhea) to 9 (profuse sialorrhea). Around 39% of people taking glycopyrrolate had a clinically relevant improvement of at least 30%, without side effects. The authors concluded that 1 mg 3 times daily is an effective and safe therapy for sialorrhea in Parkinson disease. However, these results also mean that around 60% of people with Parkinson's Disease do not significantly benefit from its use. For more current news go to Parkinson's Disease News.

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Parkinson's Disease News details all significant new research, news reports, new books, and new resources concerning Parkinson's Disease and those medical disorders that often coincide with Parkinson's Disease. It is compiled from an analysis of  all newly published research, news reports, new clinical trials, all newly published books, and new web sites. A summary and analysis of the new research are provided,  as well as links to the complete abstracts and news reports