Pramipexole reduces the prevalence of fatigue in patients with Parkinson's disease

Intern Med. 2011;50(19):2163-8. doi: 10.2169/internalmedicine.50.5456. Epub 2011 Oct 1.

Abstract

Objective: The aim of this multicenter cross-sectional study was to assess the relation between fatigue in a large number of Japanese patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) and drugs taken to treat PD.

Method: We used the 16-item Parkinson Fatigue Scale (PFS-16), which was designed to assess fatigue exclusively associated with PD. Multiple logistic regression analyses were used to assess the relation between antiparkinson drugs and fatigue in PD.

Results: A total of 350 non-demented PD patients were enrolled. Fatigue (PFS score of ≥4) was revealed in 319 patients (91%). Pramipexole was administered to 24% of PD patients. Multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that the administration of Pramipexole was significantly related to low rates of fatigue in PD patients with Hoehn and Yahr stage <3 (p=0.011, odds ratio=5.23, 95% confidence interval; 1.47-18.63).

Conclusion: The reduced fatigue in PD patients was observed in taking Pramipexole.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial
  • Multicenter Study

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Antiparkinson Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Benzothiazoles / therapeutic use*
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Fatigue / drug therapy*
  • Fatigue / etiology*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Parkinson Disease / complications*
  • Parkinson Disease / drug therapy*
  • Pramipexole

Substances

  • Antiparkinson Agents
  • Benzothiazoles
  • Pramipexole