Neurology
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Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical Trial
Lamotrigine reduces painful diabetic neuropathy: a randomized, controlled study.
To study the efficacy of lamotrigine in relieving the pain associated with diabetic neuropathy. ⋯ Lamotrigine is effective and safe in relieving the pain associated with diabetic neuropathy.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical Trial
Autoregulation of cerebral blood flow surrounding acute (6 to 22 hours) intracerebral hemorrhage.
Arterial hypertension is common in the first 24 hours after acute intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH). Although increased blood pressure usually declines to baseline values within several days, the appropriate treatment during the acute period has remained controversial. Arguments against treatment of hypertension in patients with acute ICH are based primarily on the concern that reducing arterial blood pressure will reduce cerebral blood flow (CBF). The authors undertook this study to provide further information on the changes in whole-brain and periclot regional CBF that occur with pharmacologic reductions in mean arterial pressure (MAP) in patients with acute ICH. ⋯ In patients with small- to medium-sized acute ICH, autoregulation of CBF was preserved with arterial blood pressure reductions in the range studied.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical Trial
Clinical trial of an air-circulating cooling blanket for fever control in critically ill neurologic patients.
To evaluate the efficacy of an air-circulating cooling blanket for reducing body temperature in febrile neuro-ICU patients treated with acetaminophen. ⋯ Treatment with an air-circulating cooling blanket did not effectively reduce body temperature in febrile neuro-ICU patients treated with acetaminophen. More effective interventions are needed to maintain normothermia in patients at risk for fever-related brain damage.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical Trial
Lamotrigine for central poststroke pain: a randomized controlled trial.
Central poststroke pain (CPSP) is usually difficult to treat. Amitriptyline, the only oral preparation shown to be effective in a randomized controlled trial, is often associated with a range of side effects related to the many mechanisms of actions of tricyclic antidepressants. We investigated the effect of lamotrigine, a drug that reduces neuronal hyperexcitability, on poststroke pain. ⋯ Oral lamotrigine 200 mg daily is a well tolerated and moderately effective treatment for central poststroke pain. Lamotrigine may be an alternative to tricyclic antidepressants in the treatment of CPSP.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical Trial
Treatment of agitation in AD: a randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial.
Treatment of agitation is a crucial problem in the care of patients with AD. Although antipsychotic and antidepressant medications and behavior management techniques (BMT) have each been used to treat agitation, clinical trials of these treatments have been characterized by small sample sizes and uncontrolled treatment designs. ⋯ Comparable modest reductions in agitation occurred in patients receiving haloperidol, trazodone, BMT, and placebo. More effective pharmacologic, nonpharmacologic, and combination treatments are needed.