Scopolamine effects in vestibular defensiveness
Childs, A.
Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation 67(8): 554-555
1986
ISSN/ISBN: 0003-9993 PMID: 3527109 Document Number: 269326
Disturbed vestibular function secondary to brain stem injury may result in postural gravitational insecurity, and aversion reactions or intolerance to movement. The Transderm scopolamine disc was applied in a double-blind, placebo-controlled study of five post-head-injury patients who underwent provocative vestibular stimulation such as turning in a wheelchain, head shaking, and the log roll. Four of the patients showed improvement in exquisite sensitivity to rotational movement. A surprise finding of improved truncal stability in two of the more severely injured patients indicates a potential usefulness of the scopolamine patch for patients with truncal ataxia.