The use of the drug L-Carnitine Rompharm in patients with Parkinson's disease in the context of rational pharmacotherapy

The basic drug therapy for Parkinson's disease (PD) includes levodopa, dopamine receptor agonists (ADRs), type B monoamine oxidase enzyme inhibitors, catechol-O-methyltransferase inhibitors, and amantadine. In recent years, the efficacy of L-carnitine in neurodegenerative diseases and depression, which is often associated with PD, has been reported.

Aim. To study the efficacy and safety of levocarnitine (L-Carnitine Rompharm) in PD patients of different ages and disease histories combined with ADR and levodopa.

Materials and methods. A total of 142 patients with PD (aged 43 to 82 years) were followed-up from February 2020 to July 2022. All of these patients underwent clinical-neurological and neuropsychological examinations. In all patients, L-Carnitine Rompharm was used in the complex therapy of PD in combination with ADR and levodopa. Therapy efficacy was assessed using the International Movement Disorder Society Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (MDS UPDRS).

Results. After the course of therapy, significant (p<0.05) improvements in non-motor manifestations of PD (MDS UPDRS scale I), motor manifestations of PD (MDS UPDRS scale II), and motor function indices (MDS UPDRS scale III) were observed in all age groups. Improvements in hypokinesia, rigidity, motor fluctuations (depletion of levodopa effect), peak dose dyskinesia, and postural instability were observed; thought processes, behavior, mood, and daily life activity were also improved. L-carnitine showed good tolerability and absence of side effects.

Conclusion. The efficacy and safety of L-Carnitine Rompharm in PD patients of different ages have been demonstrated.