The present invention relates to the treatment of dopamine-related dysfunction using full D
1
dopamine receptor agonists in an intermittent dosing protocol with a short, but essential, “off-period.” The D
1
agonist concentration is reduced during the “off-period” to obtain a plasma concentration of agonist that suboptimally activates D
1
dopamine receptors for a period of time to prevent induction of tolerance. Specifically, the method comprises the steps of periodically administering to a patient a full D
1
agonist with a half-life of up to about 6 hours at a dose resulting in a first plasma concentration of agonist capable of activating D
1
dopamine receptors to produce a therapeutic effect. The dose is reduced at least once every 24 hours to obtain a second lower plasma concentration of agonist that results in suboptimal activation of D
1
dopamine receptors for a period of time sufficient to prevent induction of tolerance.
本发明涉及使用全D1
多巴胺受体激动剂在间歇性给药方案中治疗
多巴胺相关功能障碍,该方案具有一个短暂但关键的“停药期”。在“停药期”期间,将D1激动剂浓度降低,以获得一段时间的亚最佳激活D1
多巴胺受体的激动剂血浆浓度,从而防止耐受性的诱导。具体而言,该方法包括定期向患者施用半衰期长达约6小时的全D1激动剂,剂量产生能够激活D1
多巴胺受体以产生治疗效果的第一血浆浓度。至少每24小时减少一次剂量,以获得较低的第二血浆浓度,该浓度导致一段时间的亚最佳激活D1
多巴胺受体,足以防止耐受性的诱导。