Treatment of memory impairment, vertigo and tinnitus in the elderly with piribedil in an Indian general practice setting.

ABSTRACT

Age-related dopamine decline leads to memory impairment, vertigo or tinnitus leading to a reduced quality of life in the elderly. This study demonstrates the efficacy and acceptability of piribedil, a dopamine agonist, in improving these conditions. Of the 515 patients included in the study, there was complete resolution of memory impairment, vertigo and tinnitus in 103 patients (20%), improvement in 374 cases (72.6%), with 38 cases (7.4%) showing no change after one month's treatment with piribedil. The treatment was well accepted with a low frequency of side-effects and full compliance with daily medication.