Open withdrawal of antiparkinson drugs in the neuroleptic- induced Parkinson syndrome. 1975

J Fleischhauer

The study was finished according to schedule with 32 of the 49 examined patients, i.e. without changes in neuroleptic medication. The antiparkinson medication had been suddenly withdrawn in all patients. No patient had to be given another antiparkinson treatment due to reappearing Parkinson symptoms. Slight and constant deterioration in their condition occurred in four patients within 1-3 weeks following withdrawal of the antiparkinson medication; this fact justified recommencement of the antiparkinson therapy. All but seven patients had been given antiparkinson drugs for more than 1 year. All patients were on neuroleptic drugs. The neuroleptic dose was increased in seven patients, a slight transient deterioration of the Parkinson symptoms occurring in two cases. Investigation into the longitudinal course of the diseases revealed that the intensity of symptoms is not always steady, but that certain variations occur. An equable course was observed in paranoid schizophrenics. In cases of catatonia and hebephrenia variations in the symptoms and their intensity must be expected. However, these variations need not inevitably call for recommencement of the antiparkinson treatment. Thus, our results confirm similar available studies in that the incidence of relapses in cases of neuroleptically conditioned Parkinson's disease is very low in patients who had been receiving antiparkinson medication for long periods; this incidence of relapses amounts to 8% in our study. Our figures are lower than those referred to in literature up to now. Within 1-3 weeks following withdrawal it becomes obvious whether another antiparkinson therapy will be necessary or not. Within the scope of our study, we cannot comment on the statement that antiparkinson drugs may be withdrawn, without any risk of a relapse, after 3-month administration.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D008297 Male Males
D008875 Middle Aged An adult aged 45 - 64 years. Middle Age
D010302 Parkinson Disease, Secondary Conditions which feature clinical manifestations resembling primary Parkinson disease that are caused by a known or suspected condition. Examples include parkinsonism caused by vascular injury, drugs, trauma, toxin exposure, neoplasms, infections and degenerative or hereditary conditions. Clinical features may include bradykinesia, rigidity, parkinsonian gait, and masked facies. In general, tremor is less prominent in secondary parkinsonism than in the primary form. (From Joynt, Clinical Neurology, 1998, Ch38, pp39-42) Atherosclerotic Parkinsonism,Secondary Parkinsonism,Symptomatic Parkinson Disease,Parkinson Disease, Secondary Vascular,Parkinson Disease, Symptomatic,Parkinsonism, Secondary,Parkinsonism, Symptomatic,Secondary Vascular Parkinson Disease,Parkinsonism, Atherosclerotic,Secondary Parkinson Disease,Symptomatic Parkinsonism
D005260 Female Females
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000328 Adult A person having attained full growth or maturity. Adults are of 19 through 44 years of age. For a person between 19 and 24 years of age, YOUNG ADULT is available. Adults
D000368 Aged A person 65 years of age or older. For a person older than 79 years, AGED, 80 AND OVER is available. Elderly
D000978 Antiparkinson Agents Agents used in the treatment of Parkinson's disease. The most commonly used drugs act on the dopaminergic system in the striatum and basal ganglia or are centrally acting muscarinic antagonists. Antiparkinson Drugs,Antiparkinsonian Agents,Antiparkinsonians,Agents, Antiparkinson,Agents, Antiparkinsonian,Drugs, Antiparkinson
D012560 Schizophrenia, Catatonic A type of schizophrenia characterized by abnormality of motor behavior which may involve particular forms of stupor, rigidity, excitement or inappropriate posture. Catatonic Schizophrenia,Catatonic Schizophrenias,Schizophrenias, Catatonic
D012562 Schizophrenia, Disorganized A type of schizophrenia characterized by frequent incoherence; marked loosening of associations, or grossly disorganized behavior and flat or grossly inappropriate affect that does not meet the criteria for the catatonic type; associated features include extreme social withdrawal, grimacing, mannerisms, mirror gazing, inappropriate giggling, and other odd behavior. (Dorland, 27th ed) Hebephrenic Schizophrenia,Schizophrenia, Hebephrenic,Disorganized Schizophrenia,Disorganized Schizophrenias,Hebephrenic Schizophrenias,Schizophrenias, Disorganized,Schizophrenias, Hebephrenic

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