Permax Information

Earlier in 2007, the FDA announced that Permax (generic: pergolide) was withdrawn. There are additional drugs in the same class that can be substituted.


Studies had been released linking Permax with heart valve damage. A study by Italian researchers found that approximately one-fourth of Parkinson's patients taking Permax had moderate to severe heart valve troubles. An additional study, by German doctors, established that users of Permax were five to seven times more likely to have leaky heart valves than those on other types of Parkinson's medications. Both studies can be found in the New England Journal of Medicine.