Erythromycin in Parkinson's Disease
Erythromycin in Parkinson's Disease
Gastroparesis (slow stomach emptying) is a common feature of Parkinson's Disease. Levodopa
 (Sinemet), a common medication for Parkinson's Disease, can make gastroparesis worse.
 Gastroparesis effects how the levodopa is absorbed and used by the body. This study will
 explore the possibility of using Erythromycin, a drug commonly used (off label) for
 gastroparesis, along with levodopa to determine if there is improved levodopa absorption and
 motor function.
Participants will be required to make four visits for evaluation. Visit 1 is a screening
 visit, participants will receive the study drug or a placebo during visits 2 and 3, and visit
 4 is a follow up visit. Participants will provide blood and urine samples during the visits.
 Participants will also be required to complete questionnaires and a series of motor tests.
Inclusion Criteria:

 -  Subjects must have a definitive diagnosis of Parkinson's Disease (per United Kingdom
 brain bank criteria), Hoehn and Yahr stage 1-3,

 -  must exhibit unequivocal levodopa responsiveness

 -  must be able to distinguish between the "off" versus "on" state

 -  Subjects must be on a stable dose of levodopa for at least 28 days prior to enrollment
 and should be anticipated to maintain a stable dose throughout both study periods

 -  Subjects may be on concomitant therapy with Monoamine oxidase B inhibitors,
 entacapone, and amantadine, though the doses of these medications must have remained
 stable for at least 28 days prior to enrollment and must be expected to remain stable
 throughout both study periods.

 Exclusion Criteria:

 -  History of deep brain stimulation for Parkinson Disease

 -  History of ablative (tissue removal) surgery for Parkinson Disease

 -  Presence of dementia (MMSE<25)

 -  Presence of active psychosis

 -  History of any chronic gastrointestinal diseases

 -  History of any prior gastrointestinal surgeries except for appendectomy,
 cholecystectomy, and hysterectomy

 -  Any gastrointestinal surgeries in the past 3 months

 -  Severe dysphagia (difficulty swallowing) to pills or food

 -  History of physiological or mechanical gastrointestinal obstruction

 -  History of strictures or fistulae (abnormal or narrow connections) along the
 gastrointestinal tract

 -  History of gastric bezoars (undigested mass)

 -  Allergy to wheat, soy, milk, or nuts

 -  Presence of portable electromechanical devices such as pacemaker, defibrillator, or
 infusion pump

 -  Female subjects who are pregnant or lactating

 -  Symptomatic orthostatic hypotension (low blood pressure)

 -  Diabetes

 -  Presence of symptomatic anemia

 -  Abnormal liver or kidney function

 -  Cardiac arrhythmia (past or present) or abnormal QT interval on entrance EKG

 -  Known hypersensitivity to any of the study drugs

 -  Subjects receiving certain medications during specified time frames