Methylphenidate and Parkinson's Disease

Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU)

Status and phase: Completed; Phase 2

Conditions: Parkinson's Disease

Treatments: Drug: methylphenidate

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other; NIH

Identifiers

NCT00359723

R01NS021062 (U.S. NIH Grant/Contract)

IRB00000959

Details and patient eligibility

About

The purpose of this trial is to determine if methylphenidate (MPD), a drug marketed in the U.S. to treat hyperactivity and narcolepsy, added to levodopa, will increase the beneficial effects of levodopa without bothersome side effects in people with Parkinson's disease (PD).

Full description

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a common disorder caused by the loss of dopamine-producing brain cells. The disorder is generally treated with levodopa combined with carbidopa. Nerve cells use levodopa to make dopamine. Carbidopa delays the conversion of levodopa into dopamine until it reaches the brain. Motor fluctuations (the wearing off effects of levodopa characterized by sometimes rapid changes between uncontrolled and normal movements) are a common, and often difficult to manage, source of disability in people with PD.

In this trial researchers will study the effects of methylphenidate (MPD), also known as Ritalin-a drug marketed in the U.S. to treat hyperactivity and narcolepsy-on carbidopa/levodopa and other antiparkinson medications taken orally by individuals with Parkinson's disease who experience motor fluctuations when they take levodopa. The overall goal of this project is to develop better symptomatic therapies for PD.

After 2 screening visits to the treatment clinic to evaluate the wearing "on" and "off" effects of levodopa, eligible participants will be scheduled for 3 admissions to the General Clinical Research Center at Oregon Health & Science University during which they randomly will receive the study drug, MPD, or placebo, along with their usual carbidopa/levodopa therapy and/or other antiparkinson medications. Also, participants will have their parkinsonism (tremor, rigidity, postural instability, and bradykinesia) rated and blood pressure and pulse measured at regular intervals.

Duration of the study for participants is about 3 weeks and includes 2 outpatient clinic visits (for screening) and 3 inpatient clinic visits (with overnight stays).

Enrollment: 13 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 21+ years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Idiopathic PD treated with levodopa and experiencing motor fluctuations
• At least 21 years of age
• Male or female.

Exclusion criteria

• Cardiovascular disease, psychosis, extreme anxiety, dementia and other unstable medical conditions.

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Crossover Assignment

Masking: Quadruple Blind

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13 participants in 2 patient groups

Methylphenidate 0.4 mg/kg TID followed by placebo TID

Experimental group

Description:

As above

Treatment:

Drug: methylphenidate

Placebo TID followed by methylphenidate 0.4 mg/kg TID

Experimental group

Description:

As above

Treatment:

Drug: methylphenidate