Adults with cerebral palsy (CP) often live with long-term pain and other uncomfortable symptoms. Managing this pain is an important part of their care. But a new study has found that the medications they are given are not always the right ones for their specific problems.
Sometimes, the drugs prescribed may not match the actual source or type of their pain. This mismatch can lead to the use of unnecessary medications, which may cause side effects or even make things worse.
Cerebral palsy is a group of disorders that affect a person’s ability to move and maintain balance and posture. It is caused by abnormal brain development or damage to the brain, usually before birth.
Many people think of CP as a childhood condition, but children with CP grow up to become adults who still need medical support. As they age, they can develop new challenges such as pain, joint problems, and other health issues.
In this study, Professor Mark Peterson from the University of Michigan Health looked at how pain and symptoms are managed in adults with CP.
He wanted to find out if people were receiving the right treatments based on the kind of pain they had or if they also had other brain-related conditions. His team studied a large group of adults with CP to understand what medications and therapies were being used.
They found that the most common drugs prescribed included medications used to treat seizures (antiepileptics), depression (antidepressants), anxiety (benzodiazepines), inflammation (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or NSAIDs), and pain (non-opioid and opioid painkillers).
Other drugs included antipsychotics, muscle relaxants, medications for bowel problems, and botulinum toxin A injections (often used to relax tight muscles).
One surprising finding was that physical therapy and occupational therapy – which are important non-drug treatments for pain and mobility problems – were only prescribed for 41% of the adults. These therapies are often the main type of treatment used for children with CP, so it was unexpected to see such low use among adults.
Another major concern was that people with mixed types of pain (meaning they had more than one kind or source of pain) were given more medications overall.
For example, 60% of them were prescribed muscle relaxants, and 80% were given non-surgical opioid medications. This is troubling because opioids can lead to addiction and other serious problems, especially when used long-term.
Dr. Peterson explained that doctors need better tools to figure out where a person’s pain is coming from and what kind of pain it is. Without that understanding, it’s easy to prescribe the wrong medication. He also pointed out that opioids can be risky for people with CP, particularly those who also have breathing problems, mental health issues, or frequent falls and broken bones.
In summary, this study shows that many adults with CP are being treated with medications that may not suit their specific pain or symptoms. Some are not getting helpful physical therapies, while others are being given strong drugs that might not be necessary.
There’s a need for better screening methods to understand each person’s pain more clearly. By doing this, doctors can choose safer and more effective treatments, helping people with CP live healthier and more comfortable lives.
The study raises important questions about how we care for adults with cerebral palsy. It encourages health professionals to look more closely at each person’s symptoms and think carefully before prescribing medications. With more personalized care, we can avoid overmedication and focus on what truly helps.
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The research findings can be found in Mayo Clinic Proceedings: Innovations, Quality & Outcomes.
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