Cns Drugs
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Cervicogenic headache is a relatively common and still controversial form of headache arising from structures in the neck. The estimated prevalence of the disorder varies considerably, ranging from 0.7% to 13.8%. Cervicogenic headache is a 'side-locked' or unilateral fixed headache characterised by a non-throbbing pain that starts in the neck and spreads to the ipsilateral oculo-fronto-temporal area. ⋯ In the meantime, limited evidence suggests that therapy with repeated injections of botulinum toxin type A may be the most safe and efficacious approach. The surgical approach, which includes decompression and radiofrequency lesions of the involved nerve structures, may also provide physicians with further options for refractory cervicogenic headache patients. Unfortunately, the paucity of experimental models for cervicogenic headache and the relative lack of biomolecular markers for the condition mean much is still unclear about cervicogenic headache and the disorder remains inadequately treated.
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Comparative Study
Opioid therapy in patients with a history of substance abuse.
A range of aberrant drug-taking behaviours can occur in patients who are undergoing treatment for chronic pain, especially if opioid therapy is involved. Assessing and understanding these behaviours, and their relationship to addiction (or substance use disorder), can be difficult but it is necessary for assuring quality pain management. Aberrant drug-taking behaviour may be evident, for example, when a patient with pain is unilaterally escalating doses of opioids or using the medications to treat other symptoms or when prescriptions are being mishandled. ⋯ In addition, control over prescriptions can be accomplished without necessarily terminating the prescribing of controlled substances entirely. Optimal medical management of chronic pain in those patients with addiction problems or engaging in problematic behaviours involves careful, ongoing assessment by the clinician as well as a tailored management approach. This approach should use multiple structures including strict contracts, prudent drug selection and frequent follow-ups to pain and addiction treatments, including the use of urine toxicology screening, to maximise the likelihood of a good outcome.
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Comparative Study
Neuropsychotherapeutics in the UK: what has been the impact of NICE on prescribing?
The UK National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) was set up in 1999 to advise the National Health Service (NHS) on the use of new technologies largely, but not exclusively, on the basis of their clinical and cost effectiveness. There have been problems with this, as with any developing system, most of which have arisen from issues not directly under the control of NICE. Despite this, NICE has already achieved a pivotal role in determining the uptake of new therapies into the NHS. ⋯ The principles behind the activities of NICE attract wide support within the NHS, but the details of its decisions have often not been popular within NHS management who have to deliver them. Some of this relates more to the context and political environment within which NICE operates than to a failing within NICE itself. NICE will continue to become increasingly important in determining the use of new drugs within the UK NHS.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study Clinical Trial
Tolerability and consistency of effect of zolmitriptan nasal spray in a long-term migraine treatment trial.
To primarily assess the tolerability of zolmitriptan (Zomig) nasal spray 5mg in the long-term treatment of migraine, as well as determine efficacy and consistency of effect over time (up to 1 year). ⋯ Zolmitriptan nasal spray 5mg provides good tolerability and efficacy in long-term use in a clinical setting, with consistently high 2-hour headache and pain-free rates. This combination of benefits translates to high patient satisfaction with this formulation of zolmitriptan.
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Review
Clinical potential of intra-arterial thrombolytic therapy in patients with acute ischaemic stroke.
Acute ischaemic stroke is a leading cause of mortality and morbidity around the world. An arterial occlusive lesion is found in the majority of patients with acute ischaemic stroke, and recanalisation has been shown to result in a better clinical outcome. The only widely approved recanalisation strategy is the use of intravenous alteplase (recombinant tissue-type plasminogen activator; tPA) within 3 hours of stroke onset. ⋯ The clinical benefits of intra-arterial pro-urokinase were recently proven in a randomised, placebo-controlled study. Third-generation agents, such as reteplase, lanoteplase and tenecteplase, offer superior recanalisation rates with limited systemic adverse effects and might prove to be the agents of choice for intra-arterial acute stroke thrombolysis in the future. The exact administration regimens as well as the identification of patient sub-populations most likely to benefit from intra-arterial thrombolysis are subjects of current investigations, and hopefully firmer guidelines will be established in the next few years, once the results of the clinical trials are available.