Pharmacotherapy in stroke rehabilitation

Abstract

Pharmacotherapy is commonly given to patients recovering from a stroke to prevent further complications (e.g. recurrent stroke, seizures) or enhance recovery. However, some drugs may have a negative impact on neuroplasticity.This review examines currently used drugs that are believed to promote recovery from motor and cognitive disturbances associated with stroke.Literature regarding the properties, efficacy, safety, and dosing of drugs used to promote recovery after stroke was reviewed.The data on pharmacotherapy are insufficient to support a claim of significantly improved rehabilitation outcomes. Moreover, a growing body of evidence indicates that some agents can impair functional reorganization and slow the recovery process. However, a few chemicals are reported to be beneficial for stroke rehabilitation. The most promising are noradrenergic and dopaminergic agents, as well as several growth factors; these should be the future focus of extensive randomized clinical trials.Currently there is no drug with proven efficacy in enhancing poststroke recovery.