Neurological system

Brain & nervous system: medicines & conditions

The brain and nerves control movement, sensation, memory and much of how the body works. Neurological medicines aim to steady the electrical and chemical signalling that goes wrong in conditions such as epilepsy, migraine, Parkinson’s disease and dementia.

Education and reference only. This hub explains which medicines relate to the brain & nervous system and why — it deliberately contains no doses and is not a substitute for advice from your doctor or pharmacist. Always check the BNF and the product labelling for prescribing detail.

About the brain & nervous system

Many neurological medicines work by fine-tuning the brain’s chemical messengers or by calming over-active electrical activity — which is why they often need to be introduced and adjusted gradually, and why several of them must never be stopped suddenly. Antiseizure medicines, Parkinson’s treatments, migraine preventers and drugs for nerve pain each have their own balance of benefit and side effects, and some carry important cautions in pregnancy or specific interactions. The themes that matter most are steady, consistent use, careful changes made with your team rather than alone, and watching for the particular side effects that go with each drug group.

What this covers

  • Epilepsy and seizures
  • Migraine and headache
  • Parkinson’s disease and movement disorders
  • Dementia and nerve pain

Conditions in this area

Brain & nervous system conditions (15)

Each links to a dose-free guide showing which medicine classes are used and how treatment is approached.

Neurology Bell's palsy A sudden weakness or drooping of one side of the face caused by inflammation of the facial nerve — usually improved by e… Neurology Cluster headache One of the most severe headache disorders, causing excruciating one-sided pain around the eye in bouts or clusters, with… Neurology Dementia A group of progressive conditions affecting memory, thinking and daily living — where some types benefit from symptom-ea… Neurology Epilepsy A tendency to have recurrent seizures caused by bursts of abnormal electrical activity in the brain — controlled in most… Neurology Essential tremor A common movement disorder that causes a rhythmic shaking, usually of the hands, which is worse with action — such as ho… Neurology Migraine A common cause of recurrent, often disabling headache, frequently with nausea and sensitivity to light and sound — manag… Neurology Multiple sclerosis A long-term autoimmune condition in which the immune system damages the protective covering around nerves in the brain a… Neurology Myasthenia gravis An autoimmune condition in which antibodies disrupt the signals between nerve and muscle, causing muscle weakness that w… Neurology Narcolepsy A long-term neurological condition affecting the brain's control of sleep and wakefulness — causing excessive daytime sl… Neurology Neuropathic pain Pain caused by damage to or disease of the nerves themselves — often burning, shooting or electric-shock-like — which re… Neurology Parkinson's disease A progressive condition in which the loss of dopamine-producing brain cells causes slowness, stiffness and tremor — trea… Neurology Restless legs syndrome An uncomfortable, irresistible urge to move the legs that comes on at rest and in the evening and eases with movement — … Neurology Stroke & TIA (prevention) Preventing a first or further stroke after a stroke or transient ischaemic attack (TIA) by treating its cause and risk f… Neurology Tension-type headache The most common type of headache, usually felt as a mild-to-moderate band of pressure around the head, managed mainly wi… Neurology Trigeminal neuralgia Sudden, severe, electric-shock-like pain in part of the face triggered by light touch or everyday movements — usually co…

Medicine classes

Medicines for the brain & nervous system (17)

Each links to a full, dose-free guide — what it is, how it works, who can and cannot use it, side effects, interactions and FAQs.

Anti-CGRP migraine treatments Neurology Modern, targeted treatments that prevent (and in some cases treat) migraine by blocking the CGRP pathway.… Anticholinesterase dementia drugs Neurology Help symptoms in Alzheimer's and some other dementias — modest but worthwhile benefit.… Carbamazepine Neurology Treats some epilepsy and nerve pain — effective but a strong enzyme inducer with several important cautions.… COMT inhibitors Neurology Add-on tablets that make each dose of levodopa last longer in Parkinson's disease.… Dopamine agonists Neurology Parkinson's and restless-legs drugs that mimic dopamine — effective, but with distinctive behavioural risks.… Gabapentinoids Neurology Used for nerve pain, some seizures and anxiety — now controlled drugs because of misuse risk.… Lamotrigine Neurology Used for epilepsy and bipolar depression — effective and, unlike valproate, generally suitable in pregnancy.… Levetiracetam Neurology A widely used, easy-to-start epilepsy drug — main watch-point is mood and behaviour.… Levodopa Neurology The most effective treatment for Parkinson's disease symptoms.… MAO-B inhibitors Neurology Tablets that modestly boost and smooth the effect of the brain's own and replacement dopamine in Parkinson's d… Melatonin Neurology A hormone used for short-term insomnia and certain sleep problems — gentler than traditional sleeping pills.… Memantine Neurology Used in moderate-to-severe Alzheimer's disease — a different mechanism from the cholinergic drugs.… Phenytoin Neurology A long-established seizure medicine with a narrow safe range, distinctive dosing behaviour and several long-te… Pyridostigmine Neurology Improves muscle strength in myasthenia gravis by boosting nerve-to-muscle signalling.… Skeletal muscle relaxants Neurology Reduce muscle spasticity and spasm in conditions such as MS and spinal injury.… Sodium valproate Neurology An effective antiepileptic and mood stabiliser with critical pregnancy-related safety rules.… Triptans Neurology Targeted treatments that stop a migraine attack once it has started.…

By active ingredient

Common brain & nervous system medicines by name

Individual, dose-free guides to specific active ingredients (and their brands) in this area:

AlmotriptanA triptan that relieves a migraine attack once the headache begins; it is taken at the ons…AmantadineA Parkinson's medicine giving modest help with symptoms and with levodopa-related involunt…ApomorphineA fast-acting injectable dopamine agonist used to rescue or prevent severe 'off' periods i…BaclofenA muscle relaxant that eases muscle stiffness and spasms in conditions such as multiple sc…BrivaracetamAn antiepileptic medicine used to help control certain types of seizure (focal/partial sei…BromocriptineAn older dopamine agonist used for Parkinson's disease, high prolactin levels and to stop …CabergolineA long-acting dopamine-agonist tablet that lowers the hormone prolactin.…CarbidopaA medicine given together with levodopa in Parkinson's disease that helps more levodopa re…CarisoprodolA muscle relaxant taken by mouth for short-term relief of painful muscle conditions, with …ChlorzoxazoneA muscle relaxant taken by mouth for short-term relief of painful muscle spasm, with a rar…Co-beneldopaA levodopa medicine for Parkinson's disease, combined with benserazide to reduce nausea an…Co-careldopaThe main medicine for Parkinson's disease, combining levodopa with carbidopa to ease slown…CyclobenzaprineA muscle relaxant used for short-term relief of muscle spasm, which causes marked drowsine…DantroleneA muscle relaxant for long-term severe muscle stiffness, and the hospital treatment for a …DonepezilA cholinesterase inhibitor used to help with the symptoms of mild to moderate Alzheimer's …EletriptanA fast-acting, effective triptan taken at the start of a migraine attack to relieve the he…EntacaponeA COMT inhibitor always taken with levodopa to extend each dose and reduce 'wearing off' i…EptinezumabA drip (infusion) given into a vein every three months to prevent migraine attacks.…ErenumabA monthly self-injection that prevents migraine attacks by blocking the CGRP pathway invol…EthotoinAn older anti-seizure medicine, related to phenytoin, that is now seldom used.…FosphenytoinAn injectable medicine used in hospital for prolonged or repeated seizures, which the body…FremanezumabAn under-the-skin injection given monthly or every three months to prevent migraine attack…FrovatriptanA long-acting triptan for migraine attacks; its longer duration makes it useful for migrai…GabapentinA medicine for nerve pain and epilepsy that calms over-excitable nerves — effective for ma…GalantamineA cholinesterase inhibitor used to help with the symptoms of mild to moderate Alzheimer's …GalcanezumabA monthly self-injection given under the skin to prevent migraine and cluster headache.…LacosamideAn anti-epileptic medicine used to help control focal (partial) seizures, on its own or wi…LevodopaThe most effective medicine for the movement symptoms of Parkinson’s disease — it replaces…MelatoninA version of the body’s natural sleep hormone — used mainly for short-term insomnia in old…MephenytoinAn old hydantoin anti-epileptic medicine, now obsolete because it caused serious blood and…MetaxaloneA muscle relaxant used for the short-term relief of muscle spasm, alongside rest and physi…MethocarbamolA muscle relaxant used for short-term relief of painful muscle spasm, usually alongside re…NaratriptanA slower-acting but longer-lasting triptan taken at the start of a migraine, often chosen …NeostigmineA medicine that boosts acetylcholine, used to reverse muscle relaxants after surgery and t…OpicaponeA once-daily add-on to levodopa that reduces 'wearing-off' in Parkinson's disease.…OrphenadrineA muscle relaxant used for painful muscle spasm, with antimuscarinic (drying) effects.…OxcarbazepineAn anti-epileptic medicine used to help control focal (partial) seizures, on its own or wi…PerampanelAn anti-epileptic medicine used, usually with other treatments, to help control focal and …PergolideAn older ergot dopamine agonist for Parkinson's, now rarely used because of heart-valve pr…PhenytoinA long-established seizure medicine with a narrow safe range — small changes in the amount…PizotifenA migraine-prevention medicine taken regularly to reduce how often migraine attacks happen…PramipexoleA dopamine agonist used to ease the symptoms of Parkinson's disease and restless legs synd…PregabalinA gabapentinoid for nerve pain, epilepsy and generalised anxiety that settles over-active …ProcyclidineAn antimuscarinic medicine used mainly to ease tremor in Parkinson's and movement problems…QuinagolideA dopamine agonist used to lower a raised prolactin hormone, for example from a prolactino…RamelteonA non-controlled sleep medicine that works on the body's melatonin system to help with tro…RasagilineA once-daily MAO-B inhibitor used in Parkinson's disease, alone in early disease or added …RivastigmineA cholinesterase inhibitor used for the symptoms of Alzheimer's dementia and dementia in P…RizatriptanA fast-acting triptan taken at the start of a migraine attack, including as a melt-in-the-…RopiniroleA dopamine agonist used to ease the symptoms of Parkinson's disease and restless legs synd…RotigotineA dopamine-agonist skin patch that releases medicine steadily for Parkinson's disease.…SafinamideA once-daily MAO-B inhibitor added to levodopa to reduce 'off' time in people with Parkins…SelegilineAn oral MAO-B inhibitor used in Parkinson's disease, on its own in early disease or alongs…SuccinylcholineA fast, short-acting muscle relaxant used during anaesthesia to paralyse muscles for placi…SumatriptanA triptan taken to stop a migraine attack once it has started — fast and effective for man…TizanidineA muscle relaxant that eases muscle stiffness and spasm (spasticity), often used in multip…TolcaponeA COMT inhibitor that extends the effect of levodopa in Parkinson's, used with liver monit…TrihexyphenidylAn antimuscarinic medicine used mainly to ease tremor in Parkinson's and movement problems…Valproic acidA valproate medicine used to treat epilepsy and to stabilise mood in bipolar disorder, wit…ZolmitriptanA triptan taken at the start of a migraine attack to ease the headache and the sickness, l…ZonisamideAn antiepileptic taken to help control seizures in epilepsy, often added to another medici…

Clinical formulas & tools

Calculators used in this area

Risk scores and formulas that inform assessment and treatment decisions for the brain & nervous system:

Abbreviated Mental Test Score (AMTS)Brief screen for cognitive impairment.ABCD² ScoreEarly stroke risk after TIA.CHA₂DS₂-VASc ScoreStroke risk in atrial fibrillation, guiding anticoagulation.Modified Rankin Scale (mRS)Degree of disability after stroke.NIHSS (Stroke Severity)National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale.

Answers

Brain & nervous system: frequently asked questions

What medicines are used for the brain & nervous system?

This system includes 17 medicine classes — such as anti-cgrp migraine treatments, anticholinesterase dementia drugs, carbamazepine, comt inhibitors. Each links to a full, dose-free guide covering what it is, how it works, who can and cannot use it, side effects and interactions.

Which conditions affect the brain & nervous system?

Common conditions in this area include Bell's palsy, Cluster headache, Dementia, Epilepsy, Essential tremor and more. Each condition page shows the medicine classes used to treat it and why.

Do these pages give doses?

No. Every page on this site is dose-free. We explain which medicines are used and why, but doses depend on the individual and the exact product — always confirm with your prescriber, the BNF and the product labelling.

Is this a substitute for medical advice?

No — it is education and reference only. It helps you understand this body system and its treatments, but decisions about your own care should always be made with a qualified clinician.

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