Role of drugs in recovery from brain damage
Vuadens, P.
Revue Medicale de la Suisse Romande 120(9): 717-724
2000
ISSN/ISBN: 0035-3655 PMID: 11094536 Document Number: 513616
The mechanisms that enhance recovery from brain lesion are more and more precise. The role of neurotransmitters and post-synaptic receptors are essential. Different drugs acting at the level of synapses are potentially useful but still few used in neurorehabilitation. The aim of this article is to review the drugs that can be prescribed in selected situation. In spite of encouraging results of numerous studies, a lot of questions remain and prove the need of large randomised studies to determine the real benefit of drugs in rehabilitation. Moreover, if the activation of neurotransmitters can improve recovery, all their antagonists will produce the inverse effect. Therefore, the choice of drugs in neurorehabilitation is essential.