AAN Dopaminergic Therapy for Motor Symptoms in Early Parkinson Disease Guideline Summary - Guideline Central

Design and created by Guideline Central in participation with the American Academy of Neurology.

Document Overview

Document Title: Dopaminergic Therapy for Motor Symptoms in Early Parkinson Disease

Authoring Society: American Academy of Neurology

Document Publication Date: Nov 15, 2021

Page Last Reviewed/Updated: May 5, 2026

Document Type: Guideline

Country of Publication: United States

Full Text Freely Available: Yes

Full Text Guideline: n.neurology.org/content/97/20/942

Source Citation: Pringsheim T et al. Practice guideline summary: Dopaminergic therapy for motor symptoms in early Parkinson disease. Neurology. 2021 November 15. doi: 10.1212/WNL.0000000000012868

Supplemental Implementation Resources

Document Scope, Criteria, and Use Cases

Document Objectives: To review the current evidence on the options available for initiating dopaminergic treatment of motor symptoms in early-stage Parkinson disease and provide recommendations to clinicians.

Scope: Management, Treatment

Diseases/Conditions (MeSH)

D000068079 - Motor Disorders

D010300 - Parkinson Disease

D009043 - Motor Activity

D059290 - Dopaminergic Neurons

D000068079 - Motor Disorders

D010300 - Parkinson Disease

D009043 - Motor Activity

D059290 - Dopaminergic Neurons

Keywords: Parkinson's disease, Parkinson’s disease, motor symptoms, parkinson

Target Patient Population: participants with parkinsons disease in the early stages

Inclusion Criteria: Male, Female, Adult, Older Adult

Health Care Settings: Ambulatory, Long Term Care

Intended Users: Nurse, Nurse Practitioner, Physician, Physician Assistant

Recommendation Development Processes & Methodology

PICO Questions

In people with early parkinsons disease, what is the comparative risk of adverse effects (specifically dyskinesia, hallucinations, and AE-related discontinuation) of levodopa vs dopamine agonists (DAs) vs monoamine oxidase type B (MAO-B) inhibitors?

Supplemental Methodology Resource: Evidence Tables

Number of Source Documents: 143

Literature Search Start Date: Wednesday, February 28, 2018

Literature Search End Date: Sunday, May 31, 2020

Includes peer/external review process?: Yes

Includes public comment process?: No

Methodologist involvement?: Yes

Patient involvement?: Yes

Includes multi-disciplinary group?: Yes

Includes systematic review?: Yes

Grades quality of strength of evidence?: Yes

Grades quality of strength of recommendation?: Yes

Discloses funding source?: Yes

Discloses conflicts of interest?: Yes

Includes benefits/harms analysis with recommendations?: Yes