FDA - MedWatch - Permax (pergolide)- Product Market Withdrawal -

Jacob Diesselhorst

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FDA notified healthcare professionals and patients that companies that
> manufacture and distribute pergolide have agreed to withdraw the drug
> from the market. Pergolide is a dopamine agonist (DA) used with
> levodopa and carbidopa to manage the signs and symptoms of Parkinson's
> disease. Results of two new studies showed that some patients with
> Parkinson's disease treated with pergolide had serious damage to their
> heart valves when compared to patients who did not receive the drug.
> These two studies confirm earlier studies that also described this
> problem. Patients currently taking pergolide should contact their
> healthcare professional about alternate treatments and not abruptly stop
> taking their medication. Healthcare professions should assess their
> patient's need for DA therapy. If continued treatment with a DA is
> needed, another DA should be substituted for pergolide.
>
> Read the complete MedWatch 2007 Safety summary, including a link to the
> FDA Public Health Advisory regarding this issue at:
> http://www.fda.gov/medwatch/safety/2007/safety07.htm#Pergolide" target="_blank">http://www.fda.gov/medwatch/safety/2007/safety07.htm#Pergolide