1. The beneficial effect of donepezil on visual hallucinations in three patients with Parkinson's disease.
- Author
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Kurita, Akira, Ochiai, Yusuke, Kono, Yu, Suzuki, Masahiko, and Inoue, Kiyoharu
- Subjects
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HALLUCINATIONS , *PATIENTS , *PARKINSON'S disease , *ANTIPSYCHOTIC agents , *PSYCHIATRY , *CHOLINESTERASE inhibitors , *COGNITION disorders diagnosis , *HYDROCARBONS , *PIPERIDINE , *PSYCHOMOTOR disorders , *SEVERITY of illness index , *DISEASE complications , *DIAGNOSIS , *THERAPEUTICS - Abstract
Visual hallucinations (VHs) are common psychiatric symptoms in patients with long-standing Parkinson's disease (PD). Treatment with neuroleptics or withdrawal of anti-PD drugs may improve VHs but will worsen motor dysfunctions. The authors report on 3 patients with long-standing PD who were treated with the cholinesterase inhibitor donepezil for the treatment of VHs. Each received a daily dose of 5 mg of donepezil, after reducing or discontinuing anti-PD medications had failed to relieve the VHs. In 2 patients (patient 1, 2), donepezil decreased VHs without worsening motor dysfunctions. In addition, the cognitive status of patient 2 improved. In patient 3, donepezil also resolved VHs, but delusions developed during treatment. After discontinuing donepezil, delusions disappeared and VHs reappeared. Donepezil may ameliorate visual hallucinations in PD patients, but controlled, double-blind trials are necessary to further clarify the effect of this drug on VHs in PD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2003
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