Editing Multiple system atrophy (section)

===Drug therapy===

[[Levodopa]] (L-Dopa), a drug used in the treatment of Parkinson's disease, improves parkinsonian symptoms in a small percentage of MSA patients. A recent trial reported that only 1.5% of MSA patients experienced any improvement at all when taking levodopa, their improvement was less than 50%, and even that improvement was a transient effect lasting less than one year. Poor response to L-Dopa has been suggested as a possible element in the differential diagnosis of MSA from Parkinson's disease.<ref name="Calandra-BuonauraDoria2015">{{cite journal | vauthors = Calandra-Buonaura G, Doria A, Lopane G, Guaraldi P, Capellari S, Martinelli P, Cortelli P, Contin M | display-authors = 6 | title = Pharmacodynamics of a low subacute levodopa dose helps distinguish between multiple system atrophy with predominant Parkinsonism and Parkinson's disease | journal = Journal of Neurology | volume = 263 | issue = 2 | pages = 250–256 | date = February 2016 | pmid = 26566913 | doi = 10.1007/s00415-015-7961-7 | s2cid = 189866517 }}</ref>

The drug [[riluzole]] is ineffective in treating MSA or PSP.<ref name="Bensimon"/>