The American Academy of Neurology released new practice guidelines on effective treatments of spasticity in patients with cerebral palsy. The guidelines appear in the January 26, 2010 issue of academy's journal, Neurology.
The report list several treatments including Botulinum toxin type A, more commonly known as Botox and/or Dysport, as effective and generally safe to relieve spasticity. As many of you who follow my blog know, however, botox to treat spastisity is what is known as an “off-lable” use because the FDA has not approved botox for the use in treating spasticity in patients with cerebral palsy.
Furthermore, there have been complications and even deaths caused by the use of botox in children with cerebral palsy.
The article also list diazepam or Valium and tizanidine commonly known as Zanaflex or Sirdalud but states these drugs carry a higher risk.
These medications are just guidelines and not intended to be rules. Meaning that these are merely meant to keep neurologist up to date on the current medications used to treat spasticity caused by CP.
Ironically, there has not been a new drug approved by the FDA to treat spasticity in over 10 years.
