Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation for Charcot-Marie-Tooth Disease Medication

Updated: Oct 08, 2021
  • Author: Divakara Kedlaya, MBBS; Chief Editor: Elizabeth A Moberg-Wolff, MD  more...
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Medication

Medication Summary

Avoid drugs and medications known to cause nerve damage (eg, vincristine, [85, 86] isoniazid, nitrofurantoin). Identify the cause of any pain as accurately as possible. Musculoskeletal pain may respond to acetaminophen or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Neuropathic pain may respond to tricyclic antidepressants or antiepileptic drugs, such as carbamazepine or gabapentin.

Dyck and colleagues [87] and Ginsberg and coauthors [88] described a few individuals with Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease type 1 (CMT-1) and sudden deterioration in whom treatment with steroids (prednisone) or intravenous immunoglobulin produced variable levels of improvement.

Sahenk and colleagues had studied the effects of neurotrophin-3 (NT3), a neurotrophic factor, on individuals with CMT-1A. It was known to promote axonal growth and was tested with favorable results in 2 animal models and in a pilot study involving 8 CMT-1A patients. [89, 90]

Passage and coauthors [91] reported therapeutic benefits from the administration of ascorbic acid (vitamin C) in a mouse model of CMT-1. Based on these results, clinical trials were undertaken at different centers worldwide, and 4 of them have been completed; unfortunately, however, none of them resulted in significant clinical improvements. [92, 93, 94, 95]

The progesterone antagonist onapristone proved to be effective in a rat model of CMT-1A; unfortunately, currently available progesterone antagonists are too toxic to be safely used in humans. [96, 97, 98]

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Nonsteroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs

Class Summary

Have analgesic, anti-inflammatory, and antipyretic activities. Their mechanism of action is not known, but they may inhibit cyclooxygenase (COX) activity and prostaglandin synthesis. Other mechanisms may exist as well, such as inhibition of leukotriene synthesis, lysosomal enzyme release, lipoxygenase activity, neutrophil aggregation, and various cell-membrane functions.

Ibuprofen (Motrin, Ibuprin)

DOC for patients with mild to moderate pain. Inhibits inflammatory reactions and pain by decreasing prostaglandin synthesis.

Naproxen (Naprelan, Naprosyn, Anaprox)

For relief of mild to moderate pain; inhibits inflammatory reactions and pain by decreasing activity of cyclooxygenase, which results in a decrease in prostaglandin synthesis.

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Cyclooxygenase-2 Inhibitors

Class Summary

Although increased cost can be a negative factor, the incidence of costly and potentially fatal GI bleeds is clearly less with COX-2 inhibitors than with traditional NSAIDs. Ongoing analysis of cost avoidance of GI bleeds will further define the populations that will find COX-2 inhibitors the most beneficial.

Celecoxib (Celebrex)

Inhibits primarily COX-2. COX-2 is considered an inducible isoenzyme, induced during pain and inflammatory stimuli. Inhibition of COX-1 may contribute to NSAID GI toxicity. At therapeutic concentrations, COX-1 isoenzyme is not inhibited; thus, GI toxicity may be decreased. Seek lowest dose of celecoxib for each patient.

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Analgesics

Class Summary

Pain control is essential to quality patient care. Analgesics ensure patient comfort and have sedating properties, which are beneficial for patients who experience pain.

Acetaminophen (Tylenol)

DOC for pain in patients with documented hypersensitivity to aspirin or NSAIDs, with upper GI disease, or who are taking oral anticoagulants.

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Tricyclic Antidepressants

Class Summary

A complex group of drugs that has central and peripheral anticholinergic effects, as well as sedative effects. They have central effects on pain transmission, blocking the active reuptake of norepinephrine and serotonin.

Amitriptyline (Elavil)

Analgesic for certain chronic and neuropathic pain. Inhibits membrane pump responsible for uptake of norepinephrine and serotonin in adrenergic and serotonergic neuron.

Nortriptyline (Pamelor)

Has demonstrated effectiveness in the treatment of chronic pain. By inhibiting the reuptake of serotonin and/or norepinephrine by the presynaptic neuronal membrane, this drug increases the synaptic concentration of these neurotransmitters in the central nervous system.

Pharmacodynamic effects, such as the desensitization of adenyl cyclase and down-regulation of beta-adrenergic receptors and serotonin receptors, also appear to play a role in its mechanisms of action.

Doxepin (Sinequan)

Inhibits histamine and acetylcholine activity and has proven useful in treatment of various forms of depression associated with chronic and neuropathic pain.

Desipramine (Norpramin)

May increase synaptic concentration of norepinephrine in CNS by inhibiting reuptake by presynaptic neuronal membrane. May have effects in the desensitization of adenyl cyclase, down-regulation of beta-adrenergic receptors, and down-regulation or serotonin receptors.

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Anticonvulsants

Class Summary

Used to manage pain and provide sedation in neuropathic pain.

Gabapentin (Neurontin)

Membrane stabilizer, a structural analogue of the inhibitory neurotransmitter gamma aminobutyric acid (GABA), which paradoxically is thought not to exert effect on GABA receptors. Appears to exert action via the alpha(2)delta1 and alpha(2)delta2 subunit of the calcium channel.

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