Continuous dopaminergic stimulation and novel formulations of dopamine agonists.

There is now accumulating evidence that the combination of progressive pathology of Parkinson's disease, the change in drug pharmacodynamics, and the pulsatile manner in which short-acting dopaminergic agents stimulate striatal dopamine receptors are the key contributing factors to the priming of the basal ganglia for induction of motor complications. Long-acting drugs provide a more physiological dopaminergic stimulation. Dopamine agonists have been extensively used as monotherapy and add-on therapy to levodopa to treat Parkinson's disease in the early stage and with motor complications. Today, the new long-acting formulation offers the advantages of an easy use and a more continuous delivery of drug. In this paper the role of new formulations of dopamine agonists in the treatment of parkinsonian patients at different stages of the disease is reviewed.