Classification of Antiparkinsonism Agents

CLASSIFICATION

The drugs used in the treatment of parkinsonism can be classified as follows:

1. Drugs affecting brain dopamine

i. Drugs that increase brain levels of dopamine

a. Levodopa

ii. Drugs that decrease dopamine metabolism

iii. Dopamine releasers

iv. Dopamine receptor stimulation: Dopaminergic agonists

v. Dopamine conservation, MAO-B Inhibitor

II. Anticholinergic agents

i. Piperidine analogues

ii. Pyrrolidine analogues

a. Procyclidine HCl

iii. Phenothiazine anaologues

a. Ethopropazine HCl

Antihistamines with central anticholinergic activity

b. Diphenhydramine

III. Miscellaneous drugs

• Antidepressants: Amitriptyline, trazadone

• α-tocopherol (vitamine E)

• Glutamate release inhibitor: Lamotrigine

• Glutamate receptor antagonist: Remacemide

• Glial-derived neurotrophic factor: GDNF

• Benztropine

• Orphenadrine citrate

• Chlorphenoxamine HCl