Neuroprotective agents

Half of pharmacists are not discussing risks of valproate with patients

Just under half of pharmacists are not discussing the risks of taking sodium valproate when dispensing the drug to women, and just over half of pharmacists are not providing a patient card warning of the risks, a survey by three epilepsy charities has found.…

Restrictions on Epidyolex prescribing reduced, as it is rescheduled

The cannabis-based medicine Epidyolex will be easier to prescribe and dispense, following its move from Schedule 2 to Schedule 5 under the Misuse of Drugs Act, Gino Martini, chief scientist at the Royal Pharmaceutical Society has said.…

Stroke survivors need more support with taking medicines, survey finds

A survey of stroke survivors in London and the East of England has found that one-in-ten say they need more help with taking their medications.…

Repurposing drugs to treat disturbances of learning and memory in neuropsychiatric disorders

In high-income countries, such as the UK, mental health problems are among the most prevalent medical conditions.…

Spider venom peptide could protect against stroke brain damage

Researchers say that Hi1a, a peptide found in funnel-web spider venom, was highly neuroprotective in rats and could be used to protect the human brain from ischaemic injury caused by stroke.…

Why there is evidence to be hopeful about neuroscience and drug development

We continue to see media reports describing how pharmaceutical companies are cutting or altogether halting investment in neuroscience, thereby eliminating the possibility of innovative treatments for devastating brain disorders such as depression and Alzheimer’s disease. These reports are both…

Printed levetiracetam pill approved for use by the FDA

The US Food and Drug Administration has given the go-ahead to a 3D printed pill containing the epilepsy drug levetiracetam.…

Data suggest that new Alzheimer’s drug solanezumab has disease-modifying properties

A monoclonal antibody in development for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) may have disease-modifying properties, according to new research.…

Glitazone drugs could play a role in prevention of Parkinson’s disease

Patients who take glitazone drugs to manage their diabetes may have some protection from developing Parkinson’s disease, suggests new research.…

Ciclosporin fails to demonstrate protection from neuronal damage during thrombolysis

The phase II study looked at the potential neuroprotective effect of ciclosporin in 127 stroke patients who also received thrombolysis therapy.…