EFFECT of CB 154 (2-BROMO-ALPHA-ERGOCRYPTINE) ON PARALYSIS AGITANS COMPARED WITH MADOPAR IN A DOUBLE-BLIND, CROSS-OVER TRIAL

Abstract

Patients [20] with paralysis agitans took part in a double-blind, cross-over investigation of CB 154 (2-bromo-alpha-ergocryptine) and Madopar (L-dopa + benserazid (a peripheral decarboxylase inhibitor), dose ratio 4:1). Each treatment phase lasted for 8 wk. Madopar was significantly superior to CB 154 in the treatment of the Parkinson state as a whole (Webster total score) and the individual symptoms of hypokinesia, rigidity and tremor. Compared with pretreatment score, CB 154 had a weak, but significant effect on tremor, but not on the Webster total score, hypokinesia and rigidity. The effect of CB 154 varied: 4 patients preferred CB 154 to Madopar on account of its satisfactory therapeutic effect and fewer side-effects (on-off phenomena, hyperkinesia, psychiatric complications); other patients showed neither therapeutic effect nor side-effects of CB 154, which in some cases may be related to too low a dose-level of CB 154 (median 30 mg daily, range 20-60 mg). In the 4 cases 1st mentioned which showed a good effect of CB 154, the ratio between the dose of CB 154 and the dose of L-dopa (in Madopar) was 3.5-10 mg/100 mg, i.e., in certain cases it must be assumed that the maximum dose of CB 154 lies around 120 mg daily.