If you have not heard, we are pleased to relay the good news that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Neupro for the treatment of the signs and symptoms of early-stage idiopathic Parkinson's disease. If you have been reading the My Parkinson's Info newsletters, or our Web site updates, you will recall that Neupro is the new generation dopamine agonist patch, with the active ingredient, Rotigotine. The system is applied to the skin once a day and provides Rotigotine continuously to the body for 24 hours.
Rotigotine is designed to mimic the action of dopamine. My Parkinson's Info has been optimistic about "the patch" because we've seen encouraging study data that confirms it is a successful treatment for many people with Parkinson's disease. We have also heard positive experiences from some of our readers and acquaintances.
Neupro for Advanced Parkinson's Disease?
The last few weeks have included some significant news about the rotigtine patch. Prior to FDA approval, the journal Neurology reported on a study showing that, compared to placebo, rotigotine significantly reduced "off" time in patients with advanced PD. The average decrease of 2.4 hours in daily "off" time with rotigotine exceeded the 0.9 hour decrease in the placebo group. Commenting on the results, lead author Peter A. LeWitt, MD explained: "Many advanced-stage PD patients experience multiple daily increases in Parkinsonian symptoms between each dose of medication. By providing continuous drug delivery, this study demonstrated that the rotigotine patch can greatly improve the consistency of PD symptom control throughout the day."
Keep in mind that the FDA has already approved Neupro for early-stage Parkinson's disease. However, based on the results of this study, the FDA may soon consider it for late-stage Parkinson's disease.
Learning More About Neupro
Anticipation for Neupro has been very high. Prior to Neupro's approval, My Parkinson's Info received thousands of requests for information on the drug. As part of our commitment to inform you of its approval, those who requested it from our Web site can look forward to receiving information from SCHWARZ PHARMA in the coming days. We encourage you to learn more about Neupro. If you think that it could provide you with additional benefits, check with the doctor who helps you manage Parkinson's disease. His or her wisdom and skill is the best predictor of your success with Neupro.
