What is tizanidine-oral, and how does it work (mechanism of action)? Tizanidine is a skeletal muscle relaxant. It works on alpha2 receptors in the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord) and blocks nerve impulses from reaching muscles which produces muscle relaxation. The FDA approved tizanidine in November 1996. What brand names are available for...
What is baclofen, and how does it work (mechanism of action)? Baclofen is an oral and injectable medication that relaxes skeletal muscles, the muscles that move the skeleton (and also called striated muscle). Chemically, baclofen is related to gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), a naturally occurring neurotransmitter in the brain. Neurotransmitters are chemicals that nerves use to...
What is autism? Share Your Story Autism can be diagnosed in babies, children, tweens, teens, and adults. Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a developmental disability that affects a person's behavior and impairs the ability to communicate and interact with others. Symptoms of autism spectrum disorder can range from mild to severe. The cause is unknown....
What is multiple sclerosis (MS)? Readers Comments 1 Share Your Story Symptoms of MS include weakness, fatigue, tingling, pain, and vision problems. Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune disease of the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord) that causes demyelination (destruction of myelin that insulates and protects the nerve cells) of the brain and...
What is lamotrigine, and how does it work (mechanism of action)? Lamotrigine is an oral drug that is used primarily for treating seizures. It is chemically unrelated to other anti-seizure drugs. The precise mechanism by which lamotrigine exerts its anti-seizure action is not known. The FDA approved lamotrigine in December 1974. What brand names are...
What is meclizine? What are the uses for meclizine? Meclizine is an antihistamine with antiemetic (anti-nausea) and antispasmodic (anti-muscle spasm) activity. It also suppresses the nervous system by blocking the action of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine. (Neurotransmitters are chemicals that nerves use for communicating with each other.) Meclizine prevents nausea and vomiting by reducing the activity...
What is Mirapex? What is Mirapex used for? Pramipexole (Mirapex) is used for the treatment of Parkinson's disease (PD) and restless leg syndrome (RLS). Is Mirapex available as a generic drug? Generics are available for the immediate release tablets. Generics of the extended release tablets are not available. Do I need a prescription for Mirapex?...
What is meralgia paresthetica? Meralgia paresthetica is an entrapment or "pinching" of the nerve that supplies sensation to the outer portion of the thigh. The lateral femoral cutaneous nerve becomes "entrapped" as it passes under the ligament of the groin. The pressure on the nerve causes abnormal sensations of burning, pain, and numbness in the...
Locked-in syndrome facts Locked-in syndrome occurs when a person is quadriplegic and also has no way to produce speech or facial movements. The affected person cannot communicate but is aware of their surroundings; the patient can hear and see and has normal intelligence and reasoning ability but may only communicate with eye movements. The main...
Spinal muscular atrophy definition and facts* Share Your Story *Spinal muscular atrophy facts medically edited by Melissa Conrad Stöppler Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is an inherited (hereditary) disease that results in destruction of lower motor neurons, nerve cells in the brain stem and spinal cord that control essential voluntary muscle activity. This genetic disorder is...