Levodopa or dopamine agonists in the early treatment of Parkinson's disease

The initial choice of therapeutic agent for patients with early symptomatic Parkinson's disease (PD) has been controversial for a long time. Although levodopa is the most effective symptomatic treatment for parkinsonism, concern regarding its potential toxicity to dopaminergic neurons and the clinical complications associated with its longterm use (particularly motor fluctuations, dyskinesias and drug-induced abnormal behavior) have fueled the search for levodopa-sparing strategies.