Medical Updates

The Neupro(r) Patch--Product Recall

Patients - please consult your physician as soon as possible.

Neupro(r) (rotigotine transdermal system) patches were recently recalled in the United States and became unavailable at the end of April. The Neupro(r) patch is a transdermal delivery system worn on the skin and is used to treat early stage Parkinson's disease. It is made by Schwarz Pharma, a company of the UCB group.

For those on this medication, it was suggested by the maker to take the following steps:

"Do not stop taking Neupro without first talking to your doctor; Consult your physician as soon as possible; Your doctor will instruct you on how to gradually come off Neupro - this may take several days, depending on your current dose.

Some Neupro patches have snowflake-like patterns on them. The more snowflakes you see, the less likely it is that the patch will work properly...

Contact your doctor if you have any questions about your medication...You may also contact UCB medical information directly at 1-800-477-7877 (option 9) if you have any questions."

(Reprinted, in part, from www.neupro.com , March 21, 2008)

"Exelon"

By Marie Saint-Hilaire, MD

Some patients with Parkinson’s disease (PD) may develop cognitive difficulties such as decreased attention, difficulty with memory retrieval (slowness to remember words or names for example), and impairment of executive functions (planning tasks and keeping track of things). Exelon® (rivastigmine) is the only medication approved by the FDA for mild to moderate cognitive difficulties in PD.

A controlled study published in 2004 showed that Exelon has some potential benefits for those with PD. The study included patients over the age of 50, who had a Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) score of 10/30 to 24/30 (the MMSE is a standardized test of cognitive function). The study showed a significant improvement in the PD patients on Exelon compared to patients on placebo, lasting at least six months in 60 percent of the study participants.

The main side effects of Exelon are gastrointestinal, such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and decreased appetite. In addition, it can increase tremor in 10% of patients.

Exelon is available in capsules and in an oral solution. In 2007, the FDA approved a patch form of Exelon that decreases the nausea and vomiting side effects and is easier to tolerate.

When considering treatment for cognitive problems in PD, it is important to rule out other causes first, such as hypothyroidism or vitamin deficiency. It is also very important to review all medications, as some like amantadine or anticholinergics, given for the treatment of PD, can affect memory or cause confusion.

Reprinted with permission, in part, from the APDA Parkinson's Report, Boston, Fall 2007

PD TRIALS WEBSITE

The first ever-clinical trials website dedicated entirely to Parkinson's disease is currently available.  The PDtrials site (www.PDtrials.org) is a comprehensive resource for finding and understanding clinical trials in PD.  It was developed by the Advancing Parkinson's Therapies (APT) campaign, which is a public awareness endeavor dedicated to accelerating the development of new PD treatments as well as increasing participation in clinical research.  PDtrials is co-sponsored by all of the major Parkinson's organizations including the American Parkinson Disease Association (APDA) and is in partnership with the National Institutes of Health. If you do not have computer access, you can call for information toll-free at 1-800-801-9484.

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