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Effective cerebral palsy treatment uses every available measure to create positive outcomes for patients challenged by the disorder. Medication is used alongside various forms of therapy, assistive technology, and rehabilitation, to enhance patients’ abilities, manage symptoms and increase comfort.
Antispasmodic drugs, for example, relieve muscle spasms commonly seen with cerebral palsy. Other medications can help control pain and co-occurring conditions.
The severity of symptoms, the areas of the bodily injuries involved, and the availability of other forms of effective treatment are key considerations when prescribing medication for cerebral palsy. Like other forms of therapy, medication is administered according to the particular needs of each patient.
When isolated spasticity is present, for example, localized injections may help reduce stiffness in affected areas. Relieving generalized spasticity, on the other hand, may call for oral muscle relaxants.
Medication is used to alleviate cerebral palsy symptoms and prevent complications. Several classes of drugs provide relief for cerebral palsy patients, including these medications:
The most widely diagnosed form of cerebral palsy, spastic cerebral palsy is characterized by tight, stiff muscles in the arms and legs. Patients can be impacted on one or both sides, with more pronounced symptoms in the lower extremities.
When muscles remain tight over time, contracture can occur, bending joints into rigid, fixed positions. The condition interferes with mobility, causing pain and complications in many cases. Treating spasticity is a fundamental concern for specialists working with cerebral palsy patients. Principal medications for treating spasticity include:
Estimates vary, but it is thought as many as 50% of those diagnosed with cerebral palsy experience seizures. A 2008 CDC study, for instance, returned data indicating 41% of cerebral palsy patients evaluated in four US states had co-occurring epilepsy. The condition occurs when excessive and irregular brain cell activity causes electrical impulses to misfire.
When seizures happen, patients are typically affected for a short time, succumbing to various symptoms, which can include loss of consciousness. There are often few signs present between episodes. Certain medications can help manage CP-related seizures:
Effective cerebral palsy treatment uses medication in combination with therapy, surgery and other forms of intervention. Because cerebral palsy treatment begins at a very young age, some parents and doctors share concerns about the side effects of long-term prescription drug therapy. A healthy diet, physical therapy and other treatment options can reduce reliance on medication.
Maintaining a special diet, rich in certain fats, may have anti-seizure benefits for children with cerebral palsy. The ketogenic diet allows patients to consume few carbohydrates, so the body must use fat to generate energy. The process creates “ketones”, which protect the body from seizures. A high fiber diet, with adequate fluid intake, is another example of preventative nutrition, which can keep patients regular and in control.
Various forms of therapy help cerebral palsy patients – without the use of pharmacological agents. However, physical, occupational, and other therapies may be more effective when paired with medication.
AAN – Cerebral Palsy: Drug Treatments for Spasticity in Children and Adolescents
CDC – Data & Statistics for Cerebral Palsy
eMedicineHealth – Cerebral Palsy
WebMD – Cerebral Palsy – Medications
Seattle Children’s – Neurology Resources
Mayo Clinic – Cerebral Palsy Treatments and Drugs