Continuous Delivery of Dopamine for Treatment of Dyskinesias

New studies are offering hope for treatment of dyskinesias. One set of potential therapies that can effectively treat dyskinesias are based on the observation that delivering a steady amount of levodopa to the brain over the course of day (instead of ingesting large doses once or twice a day) can reduce dyskineasias. Continuous subcutaneous (under the skin via needle or pump) infusion of the dopamine drugs apomorphine and lisuride are currently undergoing the regulatory approval process in the United States. Lisuride is a dopamine agonist that is approved for the therapy of PD in Europe but not in the United States. Transdermal formulations of lisuride (lisuride TTS) have been developed to provide continuous delivery of the drug to the brain. Lisuride TTS is currently being tested in phase 2 trials in the United States and Europe. Continuous intraintestinal (through the intestine) infusion of levodopa has been shown to effectively reduce dyskinesias. This therapy however has still to make its way through the regulatory process before it becomes available to you.