Clinical neuropharmacology
-
Clin Neuropharmacol · Jan 2009
Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical TrialPsychopathological and cognitive effects of therapeutic cannabinoids in multiple sclerosis: a double-blind, placebo controlled, crossover study.
To study possible psychopathological symptoms and cognitive deficits, abuse induction, as well as general tolerability and effects on quality of life, fatigue and motor function in cannabis-naïve patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) treated with a free-dose cannabis plant extract (Sativex). ⋯ Cannabinoid treatment did not induce psychopathology and did not impair cognition in cannabis-naïve patients with MS. However, the positive correlation between blood levels of Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol and psychopathological scores suggests that at dosages higher than those used in therapeutic settings, interpersonal sensitivity, aggressiveness, and paranoiac features might arise, although greater statistical power would be necessary to confirm this finding.
-
Clin Neuropharmacol · Jan 2009
Case ReportsFentanyl-induced bradykinesia and rigidity after deep brain stimulation in a patient with Parkinson disease.
A 58-year-old man with advanced Parkinson disease underwent battery replacement for a deep brain stimulator and experienced severe bradykinesia and rigidity postoperatively for 36 hours. The patient was administered fentanyl as an anesthetic during the procedure and as an analgesic periodically during the day after surgery. The severe bradykinesia and rigidity persisted despite reactivation of the deep brain stimulator and immediate reinstitution of Parkinson disease medications, but resolved completely several hours after discontinuation of fentanyl.
-
Clin Neuropharmacol · Jan 2009
Randomized Controlled TrialAcetyl-L-carnitine in the management of pain during methadone withdrawal syndrome.
This study was designed to determine the short-term effect of acetyl-l-carnitine (ALC) on symptoms of withdrawal in opiate-dependent subjects and animals and, in particular, on pain, given the efficacy of ALC in other typologies of pain. The study consists of 2 branches: a clinical study and a preclinical one, both with a randomized placebo-controlled design. ⋯ Acetyl-L-carnitine acted as an effective antihyperalgesic agent for relieving opiate-withdrawal hyperalgesia in animals and displayed clinical efficacy on other withdrawal symptoms such as muscular tension, muscular cramps, and insomnia. Considering its tolerability, the excellent side effect profile, the absence of significant interactions, and the lack of abuse potential, ALC can be considered as a useful pharmacological adjunct in the treatment of opiate withdrawal.