ABSTRACT
Dopamine agonists have become a fundamental tool in the pharmacological management of Parkinson’s disease (PD) as they have shown the capacity to significantly reduce motor disability when used as monotherapy for up to 5 years (1-3). Moreover, initial treatment with dopamine agonists in de novo patients has proven effective in delaying the onset of motor complications (1-3). Cabergoline is a relatively selective dopamine D2 agonist having high affinity for both D2 and D3 receptors (4). Cabergoline produces long-lasting contralateral rotational behavior in 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) lesioned rats and significant amelioration of parkinsonian symptomatology in 1-methyl-4-phenyl1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP)—treated cynomologus monkeys without inducing dyskinesias. It has a long-lasting effect, far beyond that produced by other dopamine agonists (4,5). Cabergoline has a prolonged plasma elimination half-life (approximately 65 hours), allowing for once-daily administration (6,7). It has been shown to be effective in improving parkinsonian symptomatology both as monotherapy and in combination with levodopa in several clinical trials (8,9).
