Bromocriptine has been compared with levodopa in a double blind trial of the management of Parkinson's disease. Both drugs were found to be equally effective when given in optimal dosage and side effects were similar, although the incidence of persistent confusional states was slightly greater with bromocriptine and after its withdrawal than with levodopa. It is in the long term management of severe cases of Parkinson's disease in whom late side effects have occurred with levodopa that there appears to be a definite advantage in combining bromocriptine with levodopa. In particular, the incidence of ‘on-off’ attacks is reduced.
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