study to assess droxidopa in the treatment of freezing of gait symptoms in patients with parkinson's disease

Conditions: Gait Disorders, Neurologic

Summary: freezing of gait (fog) is a class of symptoms that occur in parkinson's patients. also called motor blocks, fog is characterized by a sudden inability to move the lower extremities which usually lasts less than 10 seconds. the exact pathophysiology of fog is poorly understood, but treatment with levodopa appears to improve fog observed in the off-state. as parkinson's patients progress in severity, fog in the on-state can increase in frequency and appears to be resistant to dopaminergic therapies. there is additional evidence that norepinephrine as well as dopaminergic systems may be involved in fog. droxidopa has has been approved for use in japan since 1989 for treatment of frozen gait or dizziness associated with parkinson's disease. this study is to further explore the safety and efficacy of droxidopa in this indication.


Eligibility criteria:
inclusion criteria: * male or female patients, aged at least 30 years; * diagnosed with probable levodopa-responsive idiopathic parkinson's disease , and receiving levodopa. other parkinson's disease medications can also be used. * at least 3 months incidence of typical freezing of gait (fog) symptoms, occurring while levodopa is otherwise providing an "on" mobility state (including at least one of the following fog patterns: start hesitancy, freezing at making turns or when passing through a doorway, spontaneous freezing during continued walking, or freezing of gait related to a simultaneous mental or physical activity). * provide written informed consent to participate in the study and understand that they may withdraw their consent at any time without prejudice to their future medical care * on a stable dose of carbidopa, alone or with other parkinson's medication, providing a range of carbidopa between 100mg and 400mg daily exclusion criteria: * taking direct acting vasoconstricting agent (i.e. ephedrine or midodrine). patients taking vasoconstrictor agents such as ephedrine or midodrine must stop taking these drugs at least 2 days or 5 half-lives (whichever is longer) prior to their baseline visit; * taking more than one anti-hypertensive medication for the treatment of high blood pressure. short acting anti-hypertensive medication taken at night to prevent supine hypertension will be allowed. * have changed dose or frequency of parkinson's medication within 2 weeks of baseline * known or suspected alcohol or substance abuse within 1 year * sustained hypertension (bp greater than 140/90 mmhg in the sitting position) * symptomatic coronary artery disease, severe congestive heart failure * women who are pregnant, lactating, or plan to become pregnant during the course of this study; * women of child bearing potential (wocp) who are not using two methods of contraception (at least one barrier: i.e. condom) with their partner. * male patients who are sexually active with a woman of child bearing potential (wocp) and not using two methods of contraception (at least one barrier: i.e. condom) * untreated closed angle glaucoma, or treated closed angle glaucoma that in the opinion of an ophthalmologist would cause increased risk to the patient; * active (last 6 months) atrial fibrillation or, in the investigator's opinion, any other significant cardiac arrhythmia that should preclude the patient from this trial; * history of myocardial infarction or unstable angina * diabetes insipidus, insulin dependent diabetes mellitus, or diabetic neuropathy; * in the investigator's opinion, any other significant systemic illness; * known or suspected malignancy (other than basal cell carcinoma); * known gastrointestinal illness or other gastrointestinal disorder that may, in the investigator's opinion, affect the absorption of study drug; * any major surgical procedure within 30 days of the baseline visit; * currently receiving any investigational drug or have received an investigational drug within 30 days of the baseline visit; * in the investigator's opinion, clinically significant abnormalities on clinical examination or laboratory testing that should preclude the patient from this trial; * patient has only lower body parkinson's disease * in the investigators opinion, freezing of gait is attributable to previous stroke