Expert review of neurotherapeutics
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Expert Rev Neurother · Jan 2006
ReviewTetrabenazine in the treatment of hyperkinetic movement disorders.
Tetrabenazine, a dopamine-depleting agent first synthesized half a century ago, was initially developed for the treatment of schizophrenia. Although psychotic disorders have since been treated more successfully with other neuroleptic medications, many studies have shown this drug to be effective in the treatment of hyperkinetic movement disorders (hyperkinesias). Hyperkinesias are neurologic disorders characterized by abnormal involuntary movements such as chorea associated with Huntington's disease, tics in Tourette's syndrome and stereotypies in tardive dyskinesia. Recently, clinical trials investigating tetrabenazine for the treatment of chorea associated with Huntington's disease found the drug to be safe and efficacious, making approval by the US Food and Drug Administration for this indication a distinct possibility.
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Lamotrigine is an antiepileptic drug that stabilizes neural membranes by blocking the activation of voltage-sensitive sodium channels and inhibiting the presynaptic release of glutamate. Full length reports of five open trials and six out of seven randomized controlled trials (plus two abstracts) have demonstrated the efficacy of lamotrigine in the treatment of various forms of neuropathic pain. The present drug profile provides a review of the pharmacologic properties of lamotrigine, the clinical evidence related to its efficacy and safety, and discusses the current and future role of the drug in the treatment of neuropathic pain.
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Expert Rev Neurother · Sep 2005
ReviewCurrent diagnosis and therapy of complex regional pain syndrome: refining diagnostic criteria and therapeutic options.
Complex regional pain syndrome is a clinically challenging entity both in terms of accurate diagnosis and effective treatment. Complex regional pain syndrome is a post-traumatic painful neurologic syndrome involving the somatosensory, sympathetic and often the somatomotor systems. This complex condition consists of local neurogenic inflammation out of proportion to injury; severe pain in the skin, subcutaneous tissues and joints; and a central hyperexcitability that is often compounded with a sympathetic component. ⋯ The wide array of possible patient presentations and antecedent pathologies also complicate successful treatment. To further add to the clinical challenges of complex regional pain syndrome, the epidemiology and natural history of complex regional pain syndrome are only partially known; evidence concerning complex regional pain syndrome treatment has grown slowly, due in large part to the vagaries of diagnosis; and research data--when they are available--are difficult to interpret. Thus, in spite of our evolving understanding of this neurologic disorder, in many cases complex regional pain syndrome remains difficult to diagnose and treat successfully.
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Expert Rev Neurother · Sep 2005
ReviewPsychiatric disorders and muscle tenderness in episodic and chronic migraine.
This review first reports on the data concerning the relationship between migraine and personality traits and psychiatric disorders. The relationship between migraine and tenderness of the pericranial and cervical muscles is then discussed. In one study, a psychologic assessment was performed in 56 women with migraine, and the Minnesota Multiphase Personality Inventory (MMPI) and State Trait Anxiety Inventory were administered at baseline (T0) and after 6-7 years (T2). ⋯ In total, 125 patients had frequent episodic migraine, 97 had chronic migraine, 82 had frequent episodic tension-type headache and chronic tension-type headache was present in 83. In a further 72 patients, both episodic migraine and episodic tension-type headache were present. The main finding was a positive relationship between muscle tenderness and psychiatric disorders in patients with episodic migraine alone or associated with episodic tension-type headache.
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Despite significant improvements in our ability to treat neuropathic pain, we are far from the situation of being able to guarantee pain relief. The next few years promise to see the introduction of novel pharmacologic entities that show potential in the field of neuropathic pain treatment. ⋯ However, not every product of our improved knowledge will manifest as a new drug treatment for neuropathic pain. Despite evidence of efficacy, some drugs will fail to reach commercialization due to the lack of investment in their clinical development.