Abstract
Survivors of severe brain injuries may end up in a state of ‘wakeful unresponsiveness’ or in a minimally conscious state. Pharmacological treatments of patients with disorders of consciousness aim to improve arousal levels and recovery of consciousness. We here provide a systematic overview of the therapeutic effects of amantadine, apomorphine and zolpidem in patients recovering from coma. Evidence from clinical trials using these commonly prescribed pharmacological agents suggests positive changes of the patients’ neurological status, leading sometimes to dramatic improvements. These findings are discussed in the context of current hypotheses of these agents’ therapeutic mechanisms on cerebral function. In order to improve our understanding of the underlying pathophysiological mechanisms of these drugs, we suggest combining sensitive and specific behavioral tools with neuroimaging and electrophysiological measures in large randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled experimental designs. We conclude that the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of amantadine, apomorphine and zolpidem need further exploration to determine which treatment would provide a better neurological outcome regarding the patient’s etiology, diagnosis, time since injury and overall condition.
Keywords: Amantadine, apomorphine, zolpidem, disorders of consciousness, vegetative state/unresponsive wakefulness syndrom, minimally conscious state, pharmacological treatments, mechanism of action.
Current Pharmaceutical Design
Title:Amantadine, Apomorphine and Zolpidem in the Treatment of Disorders of Consciousness
Volume: 20 Issue: 26
Author(s): Olivia Gosseries, Vanessa Charland-Verville, Marie Thonnard, Olivier Bodart, Steven Laureys and Athena Demertzi
Affiliation:
Keywords: Amantadine, apomorphine, zolpidem, disorders of consciousness, vegetative state/unresponsive wakefulness syndrom, minimally conscious state, pharmacological treatments, mechanism of action.
Abstract: Survivors of severe brain injuries may end up in a state of ‘wakeful unresponsiveness’ or in a minimally conscious state. Pharmacological treatments of patients with disorders of consciousness aim to improve arousal levels and recovery of consciousness. We here provide a systematic overview of the therapeutic effects of amantadine, apomorphine and zolpidem in patients recovering from coma. Evidence from clinical trials using these commonly prescribed pharmacological agents suggests positive changes of the patients’ neurological status, leading sometimes to dramatic improvements. These findings are discussed in the context of current hypotheses of these agents’ therapeutic mechanisms on cerebral function. In order to improve our understanding of the underlying pathophysiological mechanisms of these drugs, we suggest combining sensitive and specific behavioral tools with neuroimaging and electrophysiological measures in large randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled experimental designs. We conclude that the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of amantadine, apomorphine and zolpidem need further exploration to determine which treatment would provide a better neurological outcome regarding the patient’s etiology, diagnosis, time since injury and overall condition.
Export Options
About this article
Cite this article as:
Gosseries Olivia, Charland-Verville Vanessa, Thonnard Marie, Bodart Olivier, Laureys Steven and Demertzi Athena, Amantadine, Apomorphine and Zolpidem in the Treatment of Disorders of Consciousness, Current Pharmaceutical Design 2014; 20 (26) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/13816128113196660654
DOI https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/13816128113196660654 |
Print ISSN 1381-6128 |
Publisher Name Bentham Science Publisher |
Online ISSN 1873-4286 |
Call for Papers in Thematic Issues
"Tuberculosis Prevention, Diagnosis and Drug Discovery"
The Nobel Prize-winning discoveries of Mycobacterium tuberculosis and streptomycin have enabled an appropriate diagnosis and an effective treatment of tuberculosis (TB). Since then, many newer diagnosis methods and drugs have been saving millions of lives. Despite advances in the past, TB is still a leading cause of infectious disease mortality ...read more
Blood-based biomarkers in large-scale screening for neurodegenerative diseases
Disease biomarkers are necessary tools that can be employ in several clinical context of use (COU), ranging from the (early) diagnosis, prognosis, prediction, to monitor of disease state and/or drug efficacy. Regarding neurodegenerative diseases, in particular Alzheimer’s disease (AD), a battery of well-validated biomarkers are available, such as cerebrospinal fluid ...read more
Current Pharmaceutical challenges in the treatment and diagnosis of neurological dysfunctions
Neurological dysfunctions (MND, ALS, MS, PD, AD, HD, ALS, Autism, OCD etc..) present significant challenges in both diagnosis and treatment, often necessitating innovative approaches and therapeutic interventions. This thematic issue aims to explore the current pharmaceutical landscape surrounding neurological disorders, shedding light on the challenges faced by researchers, clinicians, and ...read more
Diabetes mellitus: advances in diagnosis and treatment driving by precision medicine
Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a chronic degenerative metabolic disease with ever increasing prevalence worldwide which is now an epidemic disease affecting 500 million people worldwide. Insufficient insulin secretion from pancreatic β cells unable to maintain blood glucose homeostasis is the main feature of this disease. Multifactorial and complex nature of ...read more
![](/images/wayfinder.jpg)
- Author Guidelines
- Graphical Abstracts
- Fabricating and Stating False Information
- Research Misconduct
- Post Publication Discussions and Corrections
- Publishing Ethics and Rectitude
- Increase Visibility of Your Article
- Archiving Policies
- Peer Review Workflow
- Order Your Article Before Print
- Promote Your Article
- Manuscript Transfer Facility
- Editorial Policies
- Allegations from Whistleblowers
- Announcements
Related Articles
-
NTproBNP: An Important Biomarker in Cardiac Diseases
Current Topics in Medicinal Chemistry What Happens in TBI? A Wide Talk on Animal Models and Future Perspective
Current Neuropharmacology The Potential Mechanisms of Exercise-induced Cognitive Protection: A Literature Review
Current Pharmaceutical Design MCI Patients in Europe: Medication and Comorbidities. The DESCRIPA Study
Current Alzheimer Research Acute and Subacute Toxicity Study on Dietary Supplementation with Soy Isoflavones in Wistar Rats
Current Nutrition & Food Science Mango Polyphenols and Its Protective Effects on Diseases Associated to Oxidative Stress
Current Pharmaceutical Biotechnology Subject Index to Volume 1
Current Neurovascular Research Blocking the Path to Death: Anti-Apoptotic Molecules in Ischemia /Reperfusion Injury of the Liver
Current Pharmaceutical Design Dry Age-Related Macular Degeneration: Recent Progress of Therapeutic approaches
Current Molecular Pharmacology Atorvastatin Prevents the Neuron Loss in the Hippocampal Dentate Gyrus Region through its Anti-Oxidant and Anti-Apoptotic Activities
CNS & Neurological Disorders - Drug Targets Modulation of the Immune System for the Treatment of Glaucoma
Current Neuropharmacology Current Signal Transduction Therapy for Brain Tumors Review Article
Current Signal Transduction Therapy Role of Flavonoids in Neurodegenerative Diseases: Limitations and Future Perspectives
Current Topics in Medicinal Chemistry Cosmological Immortality: How to Eliminate Aging on a Universal Scale
Current Aging Science Astrocytes Pathology in ALS: A Potential Therapeutic Target?
Current Pharmaceutical Design Design, Synthesis, and Biological Evaluation of 7H-thiazolo[3,2-b]-1,2,4-triazin-7-one Derivatives as Acetylcholinesterase Inhibitors
Letters in Drug Design & Discovery Tityus serrulatus Scorpion Venom and Toxins: An Overview
Protein & Peptide Letters Lobar Atrophy in Frontotemporal Dementia: Diagnostic and Prognostic Implications
Current Alzheimer Research Nicotine, Body Weight and Potential Implications in the Treatment of Obesity
Current Topics in Medicinal Chemistry Notch Signaling in the Central Nervous System with Special Reference to its Expression in Microglia
CNS & Neurological Disorders - Drug Targets