Your goal for this assignment will be to research and find at least one medicine that is used for treatment or symptom management for your selected disorder or injury. Regardless of whether your treatment is a cure or a method of symptom management, you need to determine how the medicine works. Note that you do not need to be able to describe the specific mechanisms; however, you should be able to state the process in simplistic terms. For example, you might find that the medication does not alter the process of cell damage; however, it enables the neurotransmitters in the cells that remain to be used more effectively. After establishing how the treatment works, determine how effective the treatment is and how long the treatment will last. Will the person have to take the medicine for the rest of his or her life, or is it given during a brief time period? In some cases, the timing of medication application must be considered, for example, a clot-dissolving drug given in the early stages of clot formation in an ischemic stroke is more effective and leads to a better prognosis than when the drug is given later in the process.

QUESTION

Disorders and Treatment

Each disorder or injury on the topic list in Week 1 Assignment 3 involves some process of brain damage or chemical alteration. When a person is diagnosed with such a disorder, the focus is to find an effective treatment. The ideal treatment for a disorder or injury would involve a medicine that would stop or reverse the process that is causing damage or reset the chemical imbalance. In some cases, that is possible, such as when a person who has epilepsy is given a drug that stops the seizures. In other cases, such as with Alzheimer’s disease, the drug treatment involves symptom management because there is no effective way of slowing the brain damage that is occurring.

Assignment Specifics

Your goal for this assignment will be to research and find at least one medicine that is used for treatment or symptom management for your selected disorder or injury. Regardless of whether your treatment is a cure or a method of symptom management, you need to determine how the medicine works. Note that you do not need to be able to describe the specific mechanisms; however, you should be able to state the process in simplistic terms. For example, you might find that the medication does not alter the process of cell damage; however, it enables the neurotransmitters in the cells that remain to be used more effectively. After establishing how the treatment works, determine how effective the treatment is and how long the treatment will last. Will the person have to take the medicine for the rest of his or her life, or is it given during a brief time period? In some cases, the timing of medication application must be considered, for example, a clot-dissolving drug given in the early stages of clot formation in an ischemic stroke is more effective and leads to a better prognosis than when the drug is given later in the process.

ANSWERED

Disorders and Treatment: Understanding Medications and Therapies

Introduction

When individuals are diagnosed with disorders or injuries affecting the brain, the primary objective is to identify effective treatments. Ideally, a treatment should either halt or reverse the underlying processes causing damage or restore chemical imbalances. However, the efficacy of treatments varies depending on the specific condition. Some disorders, like epilepsy, can be managed effectively with medications that prevent seizures. On the other hand, diseases such as Alzheimer’s present significant challenges due to the lack of available treatments to slow the progression of brain damage, leading to the focus on symptom management. In this essay, we will explore the treatment approaches for different disorders or injuries, understand how specific medications work, assess their effectiveness, and discuss their duration and timing of administration.

Treatment Approach and Medication Mechanism

Disorder: Epilepsy

Medication: Antiepileptic drugs (AEDs)

Antiepileptic drugs, such as carbamazepine or valproate, are commonly prescribed to individuals with epilepsy. These medications work by stabilizing the electrical activity in the brain, reducing the likelihood of abnormal and excessive neuronal firing that leads to seizures. They achieve this by modulating the action of neurotransmitters, inhibiting excessive excitability or enhancing inhibitory processes in the brain (Goldenberg, 2010). By regulating neurotransmitter levels, AEDs effectively prevent the occurrence of seizures.

Effectiveness and Duration of Treatment

Antiepileptic drugs are highly effective in controlling seizures for the majority of individuals with epilepsy. In fact, approximately 70% of people achieve seizure control with medication alone. However, it is important to note that the effectiveness of AEDs can vary depending on the individual’s specific epilepsy syndrome and the type of seizures they experience.

In terms of treatment duration, the duration of antiepileptic drug therapy can vary. For some individuals, treatment may be required for a limited period, such as during a specific phase of epilepsy or until seizures are under control. However, for many individuals, especially those with chronic epilepsy, ongoing treatment with medication is necessary to maintain seizure control and prevent relapses. The duration of treatment is typically determined by the healthcare professional based on the individual’s response to medication and the overall management plan.

Disorder: Alzheimer’s Disease

Medication: Cholinesterase inhibitors (e.g., Donepezil) and NMDA receptor antagonist (e.g., Memantine)

Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder characterized by the accumulation of abnormal proteins and the loss of cognitive function (Alzheimer’s Disease Fact Sheet, n.d.). While there is currently no cure for Alzheimer’s disease, certain medications are available to manage its symptoms and slow cognitive decline.

Cholinesterase inhibitors, such as Donepezil, work by inhibiting the breakdown of acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter involved in learning and memory. By increasing acetylcholine levels in the brain, these medications help improve communication between nerve cells and temporarily alleviate cognitive symptoms in some individuals with Alzheimer’s.

Memantine, an NMDA receptor antagonist, regulates glutamate, a neurotransmitter associated with learning and memory. It helps regulate the excessive activity of glutamate, which can contribute to the cognitive decline seen in Alzheimer’s disease. Memantine may be prescribed in combination with cholinesterase inhibitors or used as a monotherapy for moderate to severe stages of the disease.

Effectiveness and Duration of Treatment

The effectiveness of cholinesterase inhibitors and memantine in managing Alzheimer’s symptoms varies among individuals. While these medications can provide temporary improvements in cognitive function and delay the progression of symptoms, they do not halt the underlying neurodegenerative process.

Treatment duration for Alzheimer’s medications is typically long-term, as the disease is chronic and progressive. The healthcare provider will continually assess the individual’s response to treatment and adjust the medication regimen accordingly (How Is Alzheimer’s Disease Treated?, n.d.). It is important to note that these medications may not be suitable for all individuals with Alzheimer’s, and their effectiveness can diminish over time as the disease advances.

Conclusion

In summary, the treatment of brain disorders and injuries involves diverse approaches depending on the condition at hand. Medications play a crucial role in managing symptoms and, in some cases, slowing disease progression. Understanding how medications work provides insights into their mechanisms of action and their ability to address specific symptoms or processes. The effectiveness and duration of treatment vary across disorders, with some requiring lifelong medication use, while others may have more specific timeframes. By tailoring treatment strategies to individual needs and considering the timing of medication administration, healthcare professionals can optimize the outcomes for patients with brain disorders and injuries.

References

Alzheimer’s Disease Fact Sheet. (n.d.). National Institute on Aging. https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/alzheimers-disease-fact-sheet 

Goldenberg, M. M. (2010, July 1). Overview of Drugs Used For Epilepsy and Seizures: Etiology, Diagnosis, and Treatment. PubMed Central (PMC). https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2912003/ 

How Is Alzheimer’s Disease Treated? (n.d.). National Institute on Aging. https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/how-alzheimers-disease-treated