Summary of key characteristics for dopamine agonists (data adapted from Utti and Ahlskog)15
| B | Pe | L | C | R | Pr | |
| Receptor activity: agonist (antagonist) | D2(D1) | D2, D1 | D2(D1) | D2 | D2 | D2, D1 |
| Pharmacological properties | Ergot | Ergot | Ergot | Long acting ergot | Non-ergot | Non-ergot |
| Plasma half life (hours) | 3–8 | 16 | 1–7 | 65 | 6 | 7–9 |
| Time to peak plasma concentration (hours) | 1–2 | 1.5 | 1 | 0.5–4 | 1.5 | 2 |
| Administration (max dosage, UK, ABPI data) | Oral (10–40 mg/daily) | Oral (<5 mg/day)1-150 | Oral, subcutaneous (<5 mg/day) | Oral (20 mg/day) | Oral (<24 mg/day) | NA |
B=bromocriptine; Pe=pergolide; L=lisuride; C=cabergoline; R=ropinirole; Pr=pramipexole; NA=not available.
↵1-150 Some clinics exceed this; the highest daily dose prescribed for several patients with refractory Parkinson's disease has exceeded 30 mg.