Dihydroergocryptine (DHEC, trade names Almirid, Cripar) is a dopamine agonist of the ergoline chemical class that is used as an antiparkinson agent.[1] Dihydroergocryptine has been shown to be particularly effective as monotherapy in the early stages of Parkinson's disease. Initial monotherapy with a dopamine agonist (other examples include pergolide, pramipexole, and ropinirole) is associated with reduced risk for motor complications in Parkinson patients relative to levodopa.[2] DHEC, like other dopamine agonists, aims to mimic the endogenous neurotransmitter and exert an antiparkinsonian effect.[3] Recent evidence also supports that dopamine receptor agonists, instead of L-DOPA may slow or prevent the progression of Parkinson's disease.
Source: wikipedia
Written by
Farooqji
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I made the time to debunk this in my reply below. I have also found similar seemingly well referenced articles of this kind in favor of other dopamine agonists that also turned out to be propaganda.
" in 2011 new spontaneous notifications reported with some of those products identified serious cases of fibrosis and ergotism and France considered that this safety concern is not outweighed by the limited evidence of efficacy. The CHMP was therefore requested to give its opinion on whether the marketing authorisations for ergot derivatives containing medicinal products should be maintained, varied, suspended or withdrawn...
"Ergot derivatives are recognised as being capable of inducing fibrosis, in particular heart valve fibrosis. The relationship between fibrosis and serotoninergic receptor activation, particularly 5-HT2B receptors by ergot derivatives is extensively described in the literature. Agonism to 5-HT2B receptors induces a proliferative response and mitogenicity of the cells expressing this receptor leading to fibrogenesis....
"Data provided during a referral under Article 31 in 2007-2008 (EMEA/H/A-31/881) including dihydroergocryptine showed that several cases of fibrosis either pulmonary or cardiac or retroperitoneal were suspected to be associated to the treatment with dihydroergocryptine use for Parkinson’s disease treatment...
"Based on these data and based on the pharmacological plausibility, dihydroergocryptine is considered to be associated with fibrotic reactions. Moreover the severity of such adverse effects, their possible fatal outcome and the raised risk for patient to develop a fibrotic disorder with long term use according to the authorised indications should be underlined"
Big Pharma has a $20 billion annual budget to influence prescribing. That buys a lot of articles of the type that you found above in Wikipedia. As demonstrated here potentially fatal adverse effects are ignored in such articles.
Daaaaaaang! That's a heavy trip! Kinda like, "Eat this toxic sludge, it's good for you! Mmmm... Fiber is good for you, so free fibrosis in your heart must make this a really good therapy!"
Apologies to anyone who does their research and has a different opinion on this drug. I'm just basing my reaction on what I just read about it! (Which looks gnarly, in a bad way!)
My husband is on the Neupro patch, also a dopamine antagonist. I see some of the behavior you described in him. He's afraid to stop it but I am seeing the aggressive, anxious behavior and obsessive shopping. Does this one cause fibrosis?
No, neupro does not cause fibrosis but the behavior you are observing is a clear sign that dopamine agonists are not for him. How much levodopa is he taking? If he is not maxed out on levodopa he needs to taper the neupro and increase the levodopa. The arising of these clear adverse effects should be plenty sufficient reason to get cooperation for this change from your MD. If that cooperation is not forthcoming it will be necessary to find a different MD.
Note that these are called "agonists" which is the opposite of "antagonists".
That dosage is getting up there. Is he taking an MAO – B inhibitor such as selegiline or Azilect? If not, one of those might allow him to reduce the neupro.
Also has he started the high-dose thiamine treatment?
I was on requip for several years, made me a crazy person until I researched it on my own and figured out what It was doing to me. I would never take that stuff again and the people that make it should be in jail.
It made me very aggressive and easily agitated, then the compulsive behavior started. In my case millions of dollars in car purchases. It seemed to start, in retrospect, when I hit a certain dosage. My friends finally had an intervention which resulted in getting new PD docs and getting off it. As soon as I was off, I went back to my old self. It was like a switch. I decided then to switch careers and go in to Neuroscience, and have since become very smart of this stuff. Those drugs are very dangerous. I am a lucky one as I could afford the spending mistakes and didn’t destroy my life in the process. Many people are not as lucky.
Thank you for your prompt response. How long were you on requip for and at what dosage did it become problematic? Are you taking anything else in its place?
Problematic at around 12mg daily of the ER. I take only Sinemet now , and manage diet carefully so it absorbs properly as the blood brain barrier is tricky. Good luck.
Many tales of woe of seniors who have lost it all due to dopamine agonist induced compulsive gambling. In some cases this is compounded by dopamine agonist withdrawal syndrome - people unable to get off of dopamine agonists due to terrible depression when they try. Many lawsuits have been filed.
There are other problems as well including dopamine agonist induced orthostatic hypotension, which can be disabling.
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