1. Patient satisfaction with switching to Stalevo: an open-label evaluation in PD patients experiencing wearing-off (Simcom Study).
- Author
-
Myllylä V, Haapaniemi T, Kaakkola S, Kinnunen E, Hartikainen P, Nuutinen J, Rissanen A, Kuopio AM, Jolma T, Satomaa O, and Heikkinen H
- Subjects
- Adult, Aged, Aromatic Amino Acid Decarboxylase Inhibitors, Cross-Over Studies, Drug Combinations, Female, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Nitriles, Treatment Outcome, Antiparkinson Agents administration & dosage, Carbidopa administration & dosage, Catechols administration & dosage, Levodopa administration & dosage, Parkinson Disease drug therapy, Patient Satisfaction
- Abstract
Objectives and Methods: This study investigated the ease with which 52 Parkinson's disease patients already receiving adjunct entacapone to traditional levodopa were switched to Stalevo (levodopa/carbidopa/entacapone)., Results: The switch to Stalevo was straightforward for most patients taking standard-release levodopa with 86% of these patients being able to replace their entire regimen without having to change the amount of levodopa taken. The majority of patients (54%, P = 0.162) preferred Stalevo; 31% preferred their prior treatment regimen; 15% had no preference. Patients found Stalevo more simple to dose (94%), more convenient to use (84%), easier to handle (84%), easier to remember (67%) and easier to swallow (59%), compared with their previous medication., Conclusions: Stalevo was well tolerated, with a low incidence of adverse events. The study shows that Stalevo is an effective, preferred and well-tolerated means of delivering levodopa/carbidopa/entacapone in one easy-to-use tablet.
- Published
- 2006
- Full Text
- View/download PDF