Pergolide mesylate and idiopathic Parkinson disease.

We studied the effects of pergolide mesylate in an open trial of 23 patients with idiopathic Parkinson disease (PD). All had suffered from loss of efficacy or dose-limiting side effects on current antiparkinsonian regimens. On pergolide therapy, improvement, which was maintained for 6 months, was noted in some parkinsonian features in all 23 patients. All patients suffering from on-off phenomenon were helped by pergolide. Significant side effects were not encountered. Pergolide is useful in the treatment of PD.