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Evidence summaries

Cabergoline Versus Bromocriptine for Levodopa-Induced Complications in Parkinson's Disease

Cabergoline appears to be as effective as bromocriptine, but to cause more dyskinesia and confusion. Level of evidence: "B"

A Cochrane review [Abstract] 1 included 5 mostly short-term (12 - 15 weeks) studies with a total of 1 071 subjects. The non-significant difference in off time reduction produced by cabergoline was 0.29 hours/day (WMD; 95% CI -0.10 to 0.68). Dyskinesia as an adverse event was significantly increased with cabergoline compared with bromocriptine (Peto odds ratio 1.57, 95% CI 1.05 to 2.35). Levodopa dose reduction was not different between the two drugs. There was more confusion with cabergoline (OR 2.02, 95% CI 1.09 to 3.76).

Comment: The quality of evidence is downgraded by indirectness of evidence (only very short-term outcomes reported)

    References

    • Clarke CE, Deane KD. Cabergoline versus bromocriptine for levodopa-induced complications in Parkinson's disease. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2001;(1):CD001519. [PubMed]

Primary/Secondary Keywords