Cerebral Palsy Medications

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Doctors prescribe several medications to treat cerebral palsy and its symptoms and associated conditions. They use medications to control seizures or muscle spasms, for pain relief, to aid digestion, and more. Medicines can improve the symptoms of cerebral palsy, as well as associated conditions, but they also come with the risk of side effects.

How Is Medication Used for Cerebral Palsy?

Medication is just one of many treatment options for cerebral palsy. Doctors have many choices of medications to prescribe for their patients that can help reduce or manage:

• Seizures
• Pain
• Spasticity
• Muscle stiffness
• Tremors

Medications also treat secondary or associated conditions of cerebral palsy, like acid reflux, constipation, mental illness, and others.

Anti-Seizure Medications

Anticonvulsants are prescribed for patients with cerebral palsy who experience seizures. The role of anticonvulsants is to reduce brain stimulation, which then helps to control the severity and number of seizures patients experience.

Since there are varying types of seizures, there are also different types of anticonvulsant medications, and physicians will prescribe the one that matches the patient’s symptoms.

Some of the most common types prescribed include:

• Topamax
• Lamictal
• Tegretol
• Dilantin
• Zonegran
• Zarontin

Each medication will affect each patient differently and come with specific side effects. To learn more about anticonvulsants, refer to our article, Cerebral Palsy and Seizure Medications.

Muscle Relaxants

Children with cerebral palsy take muscle relaxants to help control, manage, and reduce stiff muscles and muscle spasms.[1] Muscle relaxants are administered orally in tablet form, via injections, or through a pump implanted into the child’s abdomen.

The type of muscle relaxer your child needs, if any, will depend on their medical history and individual health circumstances. The most common types of muscle relaxers prescribed to children with cerebral palsy include:

• Baclofen
• Dantrolene
• Tizanidine
• Flexeril
• Diazepam

Muscle relaxers also come with unique side effects. Be sure to discuss this issue with your physician beforehand. For further information, refer to our article, Cerebral Palsy and Muscle Relaxers.

Anticholinergic Medications

Anticholinergic medications are prescribed to patients with cerebral palsy for numerous issues, such as uncontrollable limb and facial movements, muscle spasms, tremors, and excessive drooling.

Anticholinergics work by blocking the area of the brain that causes muscle movement, which helps control many of the most common symptoms that people with cerebral palsy face.[1] Some children find small doses of anticholinergic medications beneficial, whereas others require higher dosages.

The most common types of anticholinergic medications prescribed to children with cerebral palsy include:

• Robinul
• Sinemet
• Benztropine mesylate
• Trihexyphenidyl hydrochloride

Antidepressants

Antidepressant medications help improve moods and enhance well-being. Antidepressants are generally used in combination with behavioral therapy.[2] When cerebral palsy co-occurs with depression, these medications can be useful.

The types of antidepressants described can vary greatly, but the following are some of the most common:

• Celexa
• Paxil
• Prozac
• Cymbalta
• Lexapro
• Zoloft

Antidepressants come with various side effects, but reactions may differ from patient to patient.

Pain Control Medication

Different types of pain medication are used frequently to help control pain by reducing inflammation. Some children with cerebral palsy will experience chronic, long-term pain, and for this, a doctor may prescribe anti-inflammatory medicine.

Common types of anti-inflammatories prescribed to cerebral palsy patients include:

• Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
• Steroids

Pain medications come with side effects, so it’s important to discuss this with your child’s doctor beforehand.

Complementary and Alternative Medicine

Some parents would rather have their children take natural medications instead of traditional drugs. Others may try alternatives when the first line of prescribed medications fails to relieve symptoms. Others use complementary and alternative options in combination with conventional medicines.

Complementary and alternative medications generally include:

• Biologically-based supplements
• Homeopathic medicines
• Herbal medicines

Medical Marijuana

Medical marijuana is considered an alternative medication, but with the increase in research and information on its use in treating pain, it may become a more common treatment for people with cerebral palsy.[3] Some states are already allowing it to be prescribed for pain relief and seizure control.

For more information about medical marijuana, including legalities, dosage, side effects, and more, refer to our article, Cerebral Palsy and Medical Marijuana.

Considerations When Using Medications to Manage Cerebral Palsy

Parents should understand that there is no set treatment or medication for cerebral palsy. Every patient is unique and requires an individualized treatment plan.

Your child’s doctor may recommend specific medications and dosages based on their needs. Those needs will change over time, so it’s important to ensure the medication plan changes, too.

Medications should be used alongside other treatments and therapies.

Talk to your child’s doctors about medications that could help them. It’s essential to weigh the potential benefits against the risk of side effects.