Clinical practice regarding dopamine-agonist use and driving in Parkinson's disease.

BACKGROUND

Current Health Canada instructions for use of the dopamine agonists (DA), pramipexole and ropinirole, state that Parkinson's disease (PD) patients should be told not to drive. The objective was to assess neurologists' actual clinical practice concerning driving advice they give to PD patients starting a DA.

METHODS

An online survey was created consisting of 4 items regarding demographics, 5 regarding PD and driving, and 9 regarding DA use and driving. The survey was distributed to 563 neurologists.

RESULTS

In total 96 neurologists (17.9%) responded. 4.4% tell patients with PD not to drive, solely because they are taking a DA. Respondents assess the patient's tendency for excessive daytime sleepiness and sleep attacks after starting a DA more frequently than after starting other dopaminergic drugs (p < 0.001).

DISCUSSION: A minor proportion of the clinicians responding to our survey advise PD patients not to drive, solely because they use a DA. Such being the case, we propose that current Health Canada guidelines need revision.