Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 26, 2025
09:38
Determining Immune System Suppression versus CNS Protection for Pharmacological Interventions in Autoimmune Demyelination
Published on: September 12, 2016
12.2K
Trends in central nervous system-active polypharmacy among people with multiple sclerosis
Hayden Naizer1,2, Joseph Wozny3, Trudy Millard Krause3
1Department of Neurology, Dell Medical School, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA.
Multiple Sclerosis (Houndmills, Basingstoke, England)
|May 16, 2024
Summary
The use of multiple central nervous system (CNS)-active drugs by people with multiple sclerosis (MS) has increased, particularly in women. This trend highlights a growing disparity in CNS-active polypharmacy among MS patients.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Pharmacology
- Public Health
Background:
- People with multiple sclerosis (MS) face a significant risk of using multiple central nervous system (CNS)-active medications concurrently.
- The actual prevalence of this CNS-active polypharmacy in MS patients has not been previously quantified.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the prevalence of CNS-active polypharmacy among people with MS.
- To analyze trends and demographic differences in CNS-active polypharmacy over time.
Main Methods:
- A serial, cross-sectional study analyzed US insurance claims data from 2008 to 2021.
- CNS-active polypharmacy was defined as concurrent prescriptions for three or more CNS-active drugs for over 30 days.
- Included CNS drugs: antidepressants, antiepileptics, antipsychotics, benzodiazepines, hypnotics, opioids, and skeletal muscle relaxants.
Main Results:
- The study included between 23,917 (2008) and 55,797 (2021) subjects.
- In 2021, individuals with CNS-active polypharmacy were more likely to be aged 46-65 and have CNS-related comorbidities.
- Age-adjusted prevalence of CNS-active polypharmacy increased from 19.8% to 26.4% in females and 15.9% to 18.6% in males between 2008 and 2021.
Conclusions:
- CNS-active polypharmacy is increasing among people with MS.
- A notable and growing disparity in CNS-active polypharmacy prevalence exists between female and male MS patients.
Keywords:
CNS-active polypharmacyPolypharmacycentral nervous system-active polypharmacyclaims analysispharmacoepidemiologypsychotropic polypharmacyMore Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
01:28Drug Therapy
42
The advent of drug therapy has profoundly shaped modern mental health care, providing targeted treatments for a range of psychological disorders. Psychotherapeutic drugs, classified into antianxiety, antidepressant, and antipsychotic medications, address symptoms across anxiety disorders, mood disorders, and schizophrenia. While these medications have transformed patient outcomes, they require careful management due to their potential side effects and limitations.
Antianxiety Medications
Antianxiety Medications
42
01:23Nonlinear Pharmacokinetics: Dependence of Elimination Half-Life and Dose Clearance
126
The elimination half-life and drug clearance of drugs following nonlinear kinetics can vary with dosage. The Michaelis-Menten parameters and drug concentration influence these factors. As the dose increases, the elimination half-life tends to lengthen, resulting in a reduction in clearance and a disproportionately larger area under the curve. The total clearance can be derived from the Michaelis-Menten equation for drugs following a one-compartment model.
A study on guinea pigs examined the...
A study on guinea pigs examined the...
126
01:26Psychosis: Goals of Pharmacotherapy
123
Antipsychotic drugs are a crucial treatment method for acute and chronic psychoses, bipolar illness, and behavioral disorders. The selection of these drugs depends on several factors, including the state of the disease, clinical judgment, possible drug interactions, and the patient's sensitivity to adverse effects. In immediate scenarios, such as delirium and dementia, short-term treatment with low doses of high-potency typical or atypical agents can effectively manage symptom exacerbation.
123
01:21Factors Affecting Drug Response: Overview
2.0K
When it comes to infants and young children, they are typically administered smaller doses of medication in comparison to adults. This is primarily because their organ functions still need to fully develop, meaning their bodies are not as efficient at metabolizing or eliminating drugs. Additionally, their blood-brain barrier is more permeable than in adults. As a result, high concentrations of drugs can easily penetrate the central nervous system (CNS), potentially leading to neurological...
2.0K
01:30Cognitive Enhancers: Cholinesterase Inhibitors and NMDA Receptor Antagonists
120
Cognitive enhancers, also known as "smart drugs," are substances used to enhance memory, mental alertness, and concentration. These can be natural or synthetic and improve cognition in conditions like Alzheimer's disease (AD) and other neurodegenerative diseases. Some common examples include caffeine, amphetamines, methylphenidate, modafinil, arecoline, donepezil, vortioxetine, and piracetam. These enhancers work on the principle of synaptic plasticity and altered circuit function.
120
01:24Parkinson's Disease: Treatment
263
Neurodegenerative disorders, such as Parkinson's Disease (PD), involve the gradual and irreversible destruction of neurons in particular brain areas. These disorders exhibit standard features like proteinopathies, selective vulnerability of some neurons, and an interaction of intrinsic properties, genetics, and environmental influences in neural injury.
Parkinson's Disease is primarily a result of the loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta. The cornerstone of...
Parkinson's Disease is primarily a result of the loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta. The cornerstone of...
263