Other medications used in the treatment of Parkinson’s disease (III)

Patients who are experiencing ‘wearing-off’ may benefit from taking a catechol-O-methyltransferase inhibitor (COMT inhibitor).^3,4 COMT inhibitors inhibit the breakdown of dopamine and of levodopa in the body, thus prolonging their therapeutic effect and time spent in ‘ON’ states.⁵

References:
1. Stocchi F. Conventional treatment-related motor complications: their prevention and treatment. In: Wolters & Baumann (eds). Parkinson Disease and Other Movement Disorders. VU University Press, 2014.

2. van Gerpen JA. Conventional treatment in Parkinson’s disease. In: Wolters & Baumann (eds). Parkinson Disease and Other Movement Disorders. VU University Press, 2014.

3. de Bie RMA, Katzenschlager R, Swinnen BEKS, et al. Update on treatments for Parkinson’s disease motor fluctuations – An International Parkinson and Movement Disorder society evidence-based medicine review. Mov Disord 2025; doi: 10.1002/mds.30162.

4. Factor SA. Current status of symptomatic medical therapy in Parkinson’s disease. Neurotherapeutics 2008; 5 (2): 164–180.

5. Connolly BS, Lang AE. Pharmacological treatment of Parkinson disease: a review. JAMA 2014; 311 (16): 1670–1683.