Amantadine and a fixed combination of levodopa and carbidopa in the treatment of Parkinson's disease.

Administered amantadine HCl to 42 patients (average age 64.5 yr) with Parkinson's disease in an 18-wk double-blind crossover study to determine whether amantadine provides additional benefit when combined with levodopa and carbidopa. Analysis of results showed that amantadine effected a 92% improvement over baseline in symptom scores and a 95% improvement over baseline in activity impairment scores, compared with corresponding values of 4 and 18%, respectively, for placebo. The difference between amantadine and placebo was statistically significant. Except for 1 case of mild livedo reticularis and 2 of blurred vision in the amantadine group, side effects were generally similar for amantadine and placebo in type and frequency. This study provides new evidence of the importance of combinations of antiparkinson drugs to achieve maximum therapeutic benefit. (20 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved)