Objective: To directly compare two serotypes of botulinum toxin (BoNTA and BoNTB) in cervical dystonia (CD) using a randomized, double-blind, parallel-arm study design. Methods: Subjects with CD who had a previous response from BoNTA were randomly assigned to BoNTA or BoNTB and evaluated in a blinded fashion at baseline, 4 weeks, 8 weeks, and 2-week intervals thereafter until loss of 80% of clinical effect or completion of 20 weeks of observation. CD severity was measured with the Toronto Western Spasmodic Torticollis Rating Scale (TWSTRS), and adverse events were assessed by structured interview. Statistical analysis included Wilcoxon rank sum test, log rank tests, and Kaplan–Meier survival curves for duration of effect. Results: A total of 139 subjects (BoNTA, n = 74; BoNTB, n = 65) were randomized at 19 study sites. Improvement in TWSTRS score was found at 4 weeks after injection and did not differ between serotypes. Dysphagia and dry mouth were more frequent with BoNTB (dysphagia: BoNTA 19% vs BoNTB 48%, p = 0.0005; dry mouth (BoNTA 41% vs BoNTB 80%, p < 0.0001). In clinical responders, BoNT A had a modestly longer duration of benefit (BoNTA 14 weeks, BoNTB 12.1 weeks, p = 0.033). Conclusion: Both serotypes of botulinum toxin (BoNTA and BoNTB) had equivalent benefit in subjects with cervical dystonia at 4 weeks. BoNTA had fewer adverse events and a marginally longer duration of effect in subjects showing a clinical response.

Pergolide is a dopamine agonist that improves Parkinson disease but is associated with dose-dependent sleepiness. This study evaluates the effect of a nighttime dose of 1 mg of pergolide on actigraphic measures of sleep using a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study design. The pergolide group (n = 10) worsened in actigraphic measures of sleep efficiency and sleep fragmentation vs the placebo group (n = 12). Side effects were more frequent in the pergolide group.

Restless legs syndrome (RLS) is a common neurologic disorder that affects 5 to 10% of the population and increases in prevalence with aging. The clinical hallmarks of RLS include dysesthesias or paresthesias in the legs and sometimes the arms, occurring primarily at rest, which are usually worse in the evening and are alleviated by movement. RLS can be a disabling disorder, causing sleep disturbance at night and excessive sleepiness during the day. Although treatment with levodopa alleviates symptoms, many RLS patients develop rebound (occurrence of symptoms during the night) or augmentation (occurrence of symptoms before levodopa dosing in the evening). Augmentation occurs in up to 82% of patients treated with levodopa, limiting the long-term usefulness of this agent. The direct dopamine receptor agonists are long-acting drugs often administered as a single dose at bedtime. Among these agents, pergolide, pramipexole, ropinirole, and cabergoline have all been shown to alleviate RLS symptoms in 70 to 100% of patients. The most common adverse effect is nausea. Augmentation, although it may be associated with chronic agonist use, is usually mild and responsive to additional dosing. The direct dopamine receptor agonists have largely replaced levodopa as the most effective treatment for RLS.