Possible role of nondopaminergic drugs on levodopa-induced dyskinesias in Parkinson’s disease

Abstract

Levodopa remains the gold standard for the treatment of Parkinson’s disease. However, the long-term use of this drug often leads to the development of motor fluctuations and dyskinesias. The main strategies for the prevention and therapy of levodopa-induced dyskinesias are related to modifications of levodopa administration or the early use of dopamine agonists. However, recent evidence from experimental models of parkinsonism and a number of clinical studies suggest that some nondopaminergic drugs could be useful in the prophylaxis or pharmacotherapy of levodopa-induced dyskinesias. Therapeutic approaches based on nondopaminergic drugs rely on the alterations of some neurotransmitters or neuromodulators induced by nigrostriatal denervation.

• cholinergic
• GABAergic
• levodopa-induced dyskinesias
• Parkinson’s disease
• peptidergic
• serotonergic