The organization United Cerebral Palsy estimates that approximately 8,000 babies are diagnosed with cerebral palsy yearly in the United States, and 1,200 to 1,500 more preschool-age children are diagnosed with the disease each year. While cerebral palsy is not a condition that can be cured with medication, it can be controlled with certain kinds of drugs. The medications help lessen the symptoms of the illness and enable the individual to have a better quality of life.
Muscle Relaxants
One of the symptoms of cerebral palsy (CP) can be stiff limbs or spasticity with the limbs, and muscle relaxants are sometimes given to patients with the illness. Muscle relaxants used to treat CP can include Botox A, diazepam, baclofen and dantrolene, according to the Cerebral Palsy Source website. These muscle relaxants work on the brain signals, spinal cord, and skeletal muscle, respectively. Many of these drugs are benzodiazepines, which work on GABA receptors in the brain. The chemical GABA affects the functions of motor skills and muscles, and these drugs help calm the muscle contractions associated with GABA, according to the Cerebral Palsy Source.
Dopaminergic Drugs
Dopaminergic drugs affect the amount of dopmaine in the brain. Dopamine is important in CP because it impacts motor function of the hands, feet, and other body parts, according to the Cerebal Palsy Source. Sinemet and Artane (trihexyphenidyl) are two dopaminergic drugs used to help treat CP.
Anticonvulsant Drugs
Anticonvulsant drugs help stop seizures that people with CP may experience, according to the "New York Times" Health Guide. Most of the medications used in CP are of the barbiturate and benzodiazepine classes, including Trileptal, Neurontin, Topamax and Lamictal, according to the Cerebral Palsy Source. These medications have been effective in helping to reduce and even stop seizures in CP patients.
