Pramipexole may cause patients, particularly with Parkinson's disease, to fall asleep without any warning even while doing normal daily activities such as driving. When taking pramipexole hallucinations may occur and sometimes patients may feel dizzy, sweaty or nauseated upon standing up.
Patients and caregivers should be aware of the fact that abnormal behaviour (reflecting symptoms of impulse control disorders and compulsive behaviours) such as binge eating, compulsive shopping, hypersexuality and pathological gambling have been reported in patients treated with dopaminergic drugs, including pramipexole. Dose reduction/tapered discontinuation should be considered.
Boehringer Ingelheim
The Boehringer Ingelheim group is one of the world's 20 leading pharmaceutical companies. Headquartered in Ingelheim, Germany, it operates globally with 138 affiliates in 47 countries and 41,300 employees. Since it was founded in 1885, the family-owned company has been committed to researching, developing, manufacturing and marketing novel products of high therapeutic value for human and veterinary medicine.
In 2008, Boehringer Ingelheim posted net sales of 11.6 billion euro while spending one fifth of net sales in its largest business segment Prescription Medicines on research and development.
For more information please visit http://www.boehringer-ingelheim.com.
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Further information on Parkinson's disease and pramipexole can be found at http://www.PDKnowledgeGuide.com.
References
1. Hauser R et al. Double-blind evaluation of pramipexole extended-release (ER) in early Parkinson's disease. Abstract S43.003 presented on 30 April 2009 at 61st Annual Meeting, Seattle, USA.
2. Salin L et al. Double-blind evaluation of maintenance of efficacy of pramipexole extended-release in early Parkinson's disease. Abstract P06.150 presented on 29 April 2009 at AAN 61st Annual Meeting, Seattle, USA.
3. Rascol O et al. Overnight switching from immediate- to extended-release pramipexole in early Parkinson's disease. Abstract P06.152 presented on 29 April 2009 at AAN 61st Annual Meeting, Seattle, USA, 30 April - 02 May 2009.
4. Nussbaum R et al. Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease. N Engl J Med 2003;348:1356-64.
5. de Rijk MC et al. Prevalence of Parkinsonism and Parkinson's disease in Europe: the EUROPARKINSON Collaborative Study. European Community Concerted Action on the Epidemiology of Parkinson's disease. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry. 1997;62:10-5.
6. Parkinson Study Group, Holloway RG et al. Pramipexole vs levodopa as initial treatment for Parkinson disease. Arch Neurol 2004; 61(7): 1044-1053.
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Contact:
Ursula Bardon
Corporate Division Communications
Boehringer Ingelheim GmbH
55216 Ingelheim/Germany
Phone: +49-6132-77 2622
Fax: +49-6132-72 2622
E-mail: press@boehringer-ingelheim.com
Contact: Ursula Bardon, Corporate Division Communications, Boehringer Ingelheim GmbH, 55216 Ingelheim/Germany, Phone: +49-6132-77 2622, Fax: +49-6132-72 2622, E-mail: press@boehringer-ingelheim.com
