Medication for Cerebral Palsey
Many people with cerebral palsey exhibit different types of symptoms and signs related to it. The symptoms of cerebral palsey often make it difficult for sufferers to lead normal everyday lives. In order to help control and minimize the effects of the symptoms, sufferers of cerebral palsey can opt for a course of medication. The course of medication to treat the cerebral palsey symptoms must be prescribed by a qualified health professional. However there still is a need to experiment to achieve optimum results. Below are some symptoms and common medications taken to treat them.
- Seizures
Various drugs control different types of seizures. Different patients respond differently to each drug. Drugs are categorized into either first-generation anticonvulsants (older medication) or second-generation anticonvulsants (more recently developed).
- Spasticity
Where a sufferer of cerebral palsey experiences muscle contractions (myoclonus), he or she may be prescribed muscle relaxants. Commonly used muscle relaxants are diazepam (Valium®) (which side effects include drowsiness, slurred speech, constipation, nausea, incontinence) and dantrolene (Dantrium®) (which side effects include drowsiness, dizziness, general weakness, diarrhea). The overall effect of muscle relaxants is that they reduce spasticity for short periods of time; however the long term effects on a child’s developing nervous system remain unknown.
- Athetoid
A person suffering from athetoid cerebral palsey can better control abnormal movements with anticholinergics. Examples of anticholinergics are trihexyphenidyl (Artane®), benztropine (Cogentin®) and procyclidine hydrochloride (Kemadrin®). Anticholinergics work by inhibiting the effect of acetylcholine (chemical in brain cells which trigger muscle contraction). Side effects of anticholinergics include dryness of mouth, constipation, agitation and painful urination (dysuria).
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