[On the role of MAO B inhibitors and NMDA antagonists in the therapy of Parkinson's disease].

In this workshop report, the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonists and the monoamine oxidase (MAO) type B inhibitors are discussed with respect to their role in the pharmacotherapy of Parkinson's Disease (PD). For the NMDA antagonist amantadine, studies demonstrated beneficial effects in various symptoms of the PD complex, while memantine seems to be beneficial in the treatment of cognitive deficits in PD-associated dementia. The MAO B inhibitors selegiline and rasagiline are in use for PD pharmacotherapy; for rasagiline, studies have demonstrated a possible disease-modifying effect. Although not supported by specific controlled studies, a "triple" early therapy is discussed which consists of a dopamine agonist, a MAO B inhibitor and amantadine, in order to try to delay the start of levodopa therapy.