Acquired Brain Injury

The Use of Methylphenidate During Inpatient Rehabilitation After Pediatric Traumatic Brain Injury: Population Characteristics and Prescribing Patterns

“…3 In the rehabilitation setting, several medications have been proposed to improve recovery from acquired brain injury. [4][5][6][7] The neurostimulant methylphenidate (MPH), which increases release and reuptake of synaptic dopamine and norepinephrine in the central nervous system (CNS), has been used to address impairments in cognition, specifically attention, memory, concentration, and mental processing, following pediatric TBI. [7][8][9] The activating nature of MPH, specifically via CNS dopamine signaling, has also prompted exploration of MPH as a promising candidate for intervention in patients with disorders of consciousness (DOC).…”

“…[4][5][6][7] The neurostimulant methylphenidate (MPH), which increases release and reuptake of synaptic dopamine and norepinephrine in the central nervous system (CNS), has been used to address impairments in cognition, specifically attention, memory, concentration, and mental processing, following pediatric TBI. [7][8][9] The activating nature of MPH, specifically via CNS dopamine signaling, has also prompted exploration of MPH as a promising candidate for intervention in patients with disorders of consciousness (DOC). 4,10 However, the use of MPH for DOC after pediatric TBI has been limited to case series and reports of the use of MPH and MPH prescription practices are informed by the adult literature.…”

“…The implementation of clinical practice guidelines in pediatric patients in the acute setting of TBI,2 coupled with pediatric resiliency, results in many children surviving initial injury and entering inpatient rehabilitation with a spectrum of cognitive deficits 3. In the rehabilitation setting, several medications have been proposed to improve recovery from acquired brain injury 4–7. The neurostimulant methylphenidate (MPH), which increases release and reuptake of synaptic dopamine and norepinephrine in the central nervous system (CNS), has been used to address impairments in cognition, specifically attention, memory, concentration, and mental processing, following pediatric TBI 7–9.…”