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General Neurology

News, opinions and meeting coverage in neurology.

N.H. Hospital May Have Exposed Patients to CJD

Health officials in New Hampshire said eight neurosurgery patients at one hospital in the state may have been unwittingly exposed to Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD).

FDA Adds Black Box Warning to Malaria Drug

The FDA has added a boxed warning to the labeling of the antimalarial drug mefloquine, advising of the possibility of neurologic and psychiatric adverse events, the agency announced.

Hangover Risk Prompts Ambien Label Changes

New dosing recommendations for products containing zolpidem (Ambien, Ambien CR, Edluar) are now included in their labels, along with warnings of next-day hangover effects, the FDA said Tuesday.

FDA Allows Opana Generics

The original formulation of extended-release oxymorphone (Opana ER) that lacked abuse-resistant mechanisms was not pulled from the market for safety reasons, and therefore generics based on that recipe are permissible, the FDA said.

Triptans Go-To Migraine Drugs Even in Pregnancy

The triptans, most experts agree, are the go-to drugs for frequent or serious migraines in pregnancy.

On-Call Pay Varies Widely by Specialty

Surgeons commanded more than $1,000 a day for being on-call at the hospital, while primary care physicians reported compensation rates of around $150 a day, according to annually compiled data.

Lyme Disease, Autism Link Debunked

A new study has found no evidence of an association between Lyme disease and autism.

AAN: Anxiety Drug May Help in Autism

SAN DIEGO -- The hypertension and anxiety treatment propranolol improved general social functioning in young adults with autism spectrum disorder, researchers reported here.

PML Not Fatal if Caught Early

SAN DIEGO - All multiple sclerosis patients taking natalizumab (Tysabri) who were diagnosed with a serious condition called PML before symptoms appeared were still alive a year later, researchers said.

ECG for Eyes Sorts Strokes from Vertigo

A device described as an ECG for the eye accurately distinguishes stroke from other causes of dizziness in the emergency department, a small proof-of-concept study showed.

Deaths Trigger DEA Probe of Pain Specialist

Treating pain is challenging, and sometimes perilous, for both physician and patient, as is illustrated by Lynn Webster, MD, president-elect of the American Academy of Pain Medicine, who is the subject of an investigation triggered by as many as 20 deaths among his patients.

FDA: Booze and Xyrem Are Dangerous Mix

WASHINGTON -- The FDA is warning healthcare professionals that patients taking the muscle weakness and narcolepsy drug sodium oxybate (Xyrem) should not consume alcohol or use central nervous system depressants.

ALS Drug Gets Review for VA Coverage

LAS VEGAS -- Riluzole (Rilutek) should remain on the Veterans Administration formulary as a treatment for patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, despite having only modest benefits and considerable cost, a researcher said here.

Injector Pen May Ease Emergency Seizure Tx

SAN DIEGO -- An investigational pen-type injector for delivering intramuscular diazepam appeared safe and effective for home treatment of acute seizures, researchers said here.

Climbers Face Lasting Effects if Brain Swells

CHICAGO -- Extreme mountaineers who develop serious brain swelling at altitude appear to have lasting evidence of small hemorrhages in their brains, researchers said here.

Early Stroke Risk After Hip Replacement

Patients undergoing a total hip replacement appear to have an elevated risk of stroke in the weeks following the operation, researchers found.

Meningitis: FDA Warns of 'Light Therapy' Claims

A Tennessee company made false claims that its "light therapy" has benefits for fungal meningitis, the FDA said.

AHA: No Excess Bleeding Risk with Dabigatran

LOS ANGELES -- Patients starting dabigatran (Pradaxa) did not have a higher risk of bleeding compared with new users of warfarin, according to a postmarketing data review by the FDA.

Anatomy of an Epidemic: The Opioid Movie

The national clamor over abuse of prescription opioids is now at a fever pitch, but little has been said about what drove the boon in opioid prescriptions. This latest report from 番茄社区/ Milwaukee Journal Sentinel analyzes a pivotal Oxycontin marketing video, it's impact and its aftermath.

Anemia a Risk with Low-Dose IVIG, Too

Even small doses of intravenous immune globulin (IVIG) can cause acute, severe anemia, researchers warned.

Melatonin Can Help Seniors Get More Sleep

BOSTON -- Over-the-counter melatonin appears to provide a measure of sleep for older individuals who have insomnia, a meta-analysis showed.

AAP: Don't Use Sensory Disorder Diagnosis

Pediatricians should not use sensory processing disorder as a diagnosis, according to a policy statement from the American Academy of Pediatrics.

Fake Adderall Pops Up on Internet

The FDA has issued a warning about counterfeit generic Adderall tablets that are being sold over the Internet.

Child's Epilepsy Keeps Household Up All Night

Children with epilepsy and their parents reported suffering from sleep problems, researchers found.

Lacosamide Good in Trigeminal Neuralgia

NEW ORLEANS -- The anti-epileptic agent lacosamide (Vimpat) appears to give relief to patients with refractory trigeminal neuralgia, researchers reported here.

Antidepressants May Help Cut Seizures

NEW ORLEANS -- Patients with epilepsy who experience more than one seizure a month appear to achieve a reduction in seizure activity when treated with antidepressants, researchers reported here.

'Visual Snow' Called Real, Not Drug Related

NEW ORLEANS -- A mysterious and troubling phenomenon called "visual snow" is a distinct syndrome that does not appear to stem from illicit drug use, nor is it a migraine aura, a researcher said here.

Latest Use for Botox: Teeth Grinding

茂禄驴NEW ORLEANS -- Patients who ground their teeth so hard during sleep that they required medical attention achieved significant relief from botulinum toxin shots, researchers said here.

Brain Bleed Size Affects Therapy in Afib Patients

NEW ORLEANS -- The size of a brain bleed appears to determine which medications, if any, are given to atrial fibrillation patients after an intracerebral hemorrhage, a retrospective study showed.

Tardive Drug Effect Is Often Permanent

NEW ORLEANS -- Only about one patient in eight who develops tardive syndromes as a result of an antipsychotic or other drug therapy ever fully recovers, a researcher said here.

Eye Tremors May Be Early Sign of Parkinson's

Eye tremors are pervasive in Parkinson's disease and could be an early warning sign of the neurodegenerative movement disorder, according to a case-control study.

Doctors Say 45 Common Tests 'Overused'

Nine specialty groups have listed tests and treatments that are frequently overused, such as antibiotics for sinus attacks and CT scans for low back pain, in the first phase of a long-term project.

Shire Quits on Fabry Drug

Shire PLC has withdrawn its U.S. application to market an enzyme replacement therapy for Fabry disease, citing an expected FDA demand for controlled clinical trials.

Muscle Massage Rubs Out Inflammation

Heavily stressed muscles responded to massage therapy with a variety of biologic changes associated with reduced inflammation, analysis of tissue specimens showed.

Two-Drug Combo Appears Best for Refractory Epilepsy

For patients with refractory epilepsy, a combination of lamotrigine and valproate may be the best option for preventing seizures, a retrospective analysis showed.

New Guideline on Transverse Myelitis Released

Certain clinical, imaging, and laboratory findings can help determine the etiology and prognosis in patients presenting with transverse myelitis, according to a new guideline from the American Academy of Neurology.

High Blood Pressure May Spark Facial Nerve Pain

Patients with hypertension appear to carry a higher risk for developing trigeminal neuralgia, a Taiwanese study showed.

Fast Brain Growth in Preemie Predicts Smarter Kid

The rate of brain growth in the weeks before premature babies reach their predicted birth date is related to their cognitive abilities as children, researchers reported.

Brain Takes Multiple Hits from Low B12 Levels

Low levels of vitamin B12 may contribute to cognitive problems for older adults in more than one way, according to a cross-sectional study.

More Vets Approved for Agent Orange Claims

WASHINGTON -- Veterans who served in Korea from 1968 through 1971 were probably exposed to Agent Orange, which makes them eligible for treatment at VA medical centers, according to a ruling from the Department of Veterans Affairs.

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