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Rotigotine is a D3/D2/D1 dopamine
agonist delivered through a silicone-based transdermal patch
that is administered once daily. Pharmacokinetic data in humans
have shown that steady-state plasma levels of rotigotine can
be reached between 8 and 12 hours, and a stable drug release
is maintained throughout the 24-hour patch application. Results
of several clinical trials demonstrated that the rotigotine
transdermal system is safe, well tolerated and effective monotherapy
for patients in the early stages of Parkinson's disease. Rotigotine
transdermal application also demonstrated the possibility of
decreasing levodopa dosage in order to decrease its toxic effects
in advanced Parkinson's disease. In addition, rotigotine has
shown efficacy in the treatment of restless legs syndrome. Clinical
studies on rotigotine, the first transdermally delivered dopamine
agonist, are now in progress, and regulatory approval is expected
in the near future.
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