News | Neurological conditions

News

Epilepsy drugs levetiracetam and zonisamide should not be routinely used first line in the NHS, conclude researchers

Using data from two studies involving more than 1,500 people with newly diagnosed epilepsy, study authors concluded that neither levetiracetam nor zonisamide should be used as routine first-line anti-seizure medication.…

Published: 20 December 2021

News

Widely prescribed antidepressant not beneficial in treating agitation in dementia patients, study finds

A study has demonstrated that mirtazapine does not reduce agitation in patients with dementia, when compared with a placebo.…

Published: 26 October 2021

Feature

Why it is too soon to celebrate the Alzheimer’s ‘wonder drug’

The US approval of aducanumab — the first disease-modifying drug for Alzheimer’s disease — based on a trial with a surrogate endpoint, has caused quite a stir. Here we look at the controversy and what the approval might mean for Alzheimer’s research.…

Published: 16 September 2021

Feature

Long COVID: the pharmacy staff picking up the pieces months after being infected

We speak to formerly fit and well pharmacists and technicians whose lives have been devastated by long COVID.…

Published: 12 August 2021

News

No difference in cognitive outcomes in children born to women taking antiseizure medicines

Researchers found no significant differences in the development of children born to mothers taking antiseizure medicines during pregnancy and those who did not.…

Published: 22 July 2021

Feature

Beyond valproate: treatment dilemmas for women with epilepsy continue

For women with epilepsy, seizure control during pregnancy is a moving target, and with increasing knowledge about the risks of antiepileptics on foetal development, prescribers are having to balance the risks and benefits for both mother and baby.…

Published: 8 July 2021

News

Just 14 pharmacies failed GPhC inspections for shortfalls linked to valproate since 2018/2019, figures show

Exclusive: Only 14 out of 6,800 inspected pharmacies failed in relation to valproate precautions during the period 2018–2021.…

Published: 25 June 2021

Feature

A day in the life of a multiple sclerosis pharmacist

As a specialist in multiple sclerosis, Brina Bharkhada is a crucial part of the multidisciplinary team managing patients at the National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery in London.…

Published: 4 May 2021

News

Non-drug therapies better than drugs for symptoms of depression in dementia

A review has found that several non-drug interventions were more effective than usual care in the treatment of depression in people with dementia.…

Published: 19 April 2021

News

Government will ‘prioritise’ extending valproate registry to cover all antiepileptic drugs

The Department of Health and Social Care said that it will prioritise extending the valproate registry to include all women prescribed an antiepileptic drug.…

Published: 8 March 2021