Table 5 Pharmacological management of paroxysmal sympathetic hyperactivity: abortive and preventive medications and dosages

Abortive medications use

Number of patients on abortive treatment

42

100%

Morphine

0.03 to 0.5 mg/kg every (6–8 h)

18

42.9%

Clonidine

0.001 to 0.005 mg/kg every (6, 8, or 12 h)

21

50.0%

Benzodiazepine

0.03 to 1 mg/kg every (6, 8, or 12 h)

32

76.2%

Acetaminophen

10 or 15 mg/kg every (8 h)

14

33.3%

Beta-blocker

0.05 to 2.3 mg/kg every (6–8 h)

3

7.1%

Ibuprofen

10 mg/kg every (8–48 h)

2

4.8%

Chloral hydrate

25 mg/kg every 8 h

1

2.4%

Preventive medication

Number of patients on preventive treatment

37

88.09%

Gabapentin

10 to 50 mg/kg, every (8, 12, or 24 h)

30

71.4%

Baclofen

0.5 to3 mg/kg, every (8–12 h)

16

38.1%

Trihexyphenidyl

0.6 to 2 mg/kg every (8–12 h)

6

14.3%

Pregabalin

3, 5.5, 40, 50 mg/kg every (8, 12, or 24 h)

5

11.9%

Dantrolene

1 mg/kg, every (8–12 h)

3

7.1%

Diazepam

0.05 mg/kg every 6 h

1

2.4%

Chloral hydrate preventive

0.5 mg/kg every 12 h

1

2.4%

Tetrabenazine

0.6 mg/kg every 12 h

1

2.4%

Melatonin

0.4 mg/kg every 24 h

1

2.4%