Patient satisfaction with switching to Stalevo: an open-label evaluation in PD patients experiencing wearing-off (Simcom Study).

V Myllylä, T Haapaniemi, S Kaakkola, E Kinnunen, P Hartikainen, J Nuutinen, A Rissanen, A M Kuopio, T Jolma, O Satomaa, H Heikkinen

Journal: Acta neurologica Scandinavica 2006;114(3):181-6

PMID: 16911346

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Abstract

OBJECTIVES AND METHODS

This study investigated the ease with which 52 Parkinson's disease patients already receiving adjunct entacapone to traditional levodopa were switched to Stalevo (levodopa/carbidopa/entacapone).

RESULTS

The switch to Stalevo was straightforward for most patients taking standard-release levodopa with 86% of these patients being able to replace their entire regimen without having to change the amount of levodopa taken. The majority of patients (54%, P = 0.162) preferred Stalevo; 31% preferred their prior treatment regimen; 15% had no preference. Patients found Stalevo more simple to dose (94%), more convenient to use (84%), easier to handle (84%), easier to remember (67%) and easier to swallow (59%), compared with their previous medication.

CONCLUSIONS

Stalevo was well tolerated, with a low incidence of adverse events. The study shows that Stalevo is an effective, preferred and well-tolerated means of delivering levodopa/carbidopa/entacapone in one easy-to-use tablet.

Address: Department of Neurology, Oulu University Hospital, Oulu, Finland. [email protected]

DOI: 10.1111/j.1600-0404.2006.00703.x

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MeSH Terms: Adult, Aged, Antiparkinson Agents, Aromatic Amino Acid Decarboxylase Inhibitors, Carbidopa, Catechols, Cross-Over Studies, Drug Combinations, Female, Humans, Levodopa, Male, Middle Aged, Nitriles, Parkinson Disease, Patient Satisfaction, Treatment Outcome