Scientists Are Testing an Old Cough Medicine as a Parkinson’s Disease Treatment

Parkinson’s Disease, a degenerative disorder of the central nervous system, has no known cure. Scientists are hoping that an old cough medicine may provide the breakthrough they have been looking for. Recently, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved a clinical trial to assess the efficacy of inactive ingredients in an old cough medicine, known as hydroxyamphetamine, to treat Parkinson’s Disease.

The clinical trial, called “The HYPER-PD Trial”, is being conducted by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. The trial is the first of its kind to be approved by the FDA and it’s the first to include comparing a current active treatment for Parkinson’s Disease (apomorphine, a dopamine agonist) to an inactive ingredient in an old cough medicine.

Hydroxyamphetamine is not a new drug, rather it is the inactive ingredient in a brand of medication that has been around for nearly a century, since as early as 1931. The drug was originally intended to be an anti-itch medication, but became popular as a cough suppressant and an expectorant. In recent years, researchers have been exploring its potential as a treatment for diabetes, schizophrenia, and Parkinson’s Disease.

The HYPER-PD study will evaluate how well hydroxyamphetamine works compared to the currently approved drug and additionally it will assess the side effects of hydroxyamphetamine. The participants in the study will be divided into two groups, one will receive hydroxyamphetamine and the other will receive apomorphine. Both medications will be taken as tablets and liquid once a day.

Although, more research is needed to fully understand the effects of hydroxyamphetamine on Parkinson’s Disease, the initial results are promising, as it appears to improve the motor and speech symptoms of the disease. This trial could potentially provide the breakthrough that many have been looking for – an effective and safe treatment for the debilitating disorder. It is an exciting time for Parkinson’s research and for potential treatment options for those living with the debilitating effects of the disease.