Recent advances in the treatment of Parkinson's disease: the role of bromocriptine.

We have treated 102 Parkinson patients with bromocriptine for up to 6 years; most of these posed problems of management when referred to us. Forty-two continue to take bromocriptine, at a mean dose of 49 mg daily (range 10-160), in combination with some 50% of their previous optimal dose of levodopa (with or without a decarboxylase inhibitor). We consider the main indications for bromocriptine are severe dyskinesia, early morning dystonia, and "wearing off" reactions. Contraindications include hallucinations, delusions, substantial confusion, acute myocardial infarction, active peptic ulceration, and active pleuropulmonary disease.