Restorative Medications: Definition and Types
Restorative medications are therapeutic agents used to restore organ function, manage symptoms during recovery, and improve quality of life during the healing process or end-of-life care. These medications are designed to support the body's natural healing processes or compensate for diminished physiological functions.
Types of Restorative Medications
Recovery-Stage Medications
Chinese patent medicines like Shengmaiyin are used in the recovery stage of illness to boost Qi and nourish Yin, addressing symptoms such as generalized heat with sweating, chest heat vexation, shortness of breath, and lassitude 1
Traditional decoctions like Zhuye Shigao with cogongrass rhizome and rhizoma phragmitis are prescribed to restore balance during recovery stages, containing ingredients such as bamboo leaf, gypsum, Codonopsis pilosula, and radix ophiopogonis 1
For patients with lung and spleen Qi deficiency during recovery, medications containing rhizoma pinellinae praeparata, dried tangerine peel, radix astragali preparata, and other herbs are recommended to supplement spleen and lung function 1
Symptom Management Medications
Medications classified as "always appropriate" in palliative care settings are those essential for symptom management and comfort during end-of-life periods, improving patient quality of life 1
Pain management medications such as gabapentin, pregabalin, and amitriptyline are considered appropriate for managing neuropathic pain even in palliative care settings 1
Anticonvulsants (α-2-delta calcium-channel antagonists, sodium-channel antagonists, and membrane-stabilizing drugs) are used as part of multimodal strategies for patients with neuropathic pain 1
Nutritional Restorative Agents
Zinc supplementation is a critical restorative medication that prevents deficiency symptoms such as parakeratosis, hypogeusia, anorexia, and growth retardation 2
Zinc is an essential component of at least 120 metalloenzymes including carbonic anhydrases, alkaline phosphatases, and plays a vital role in nucleic acid synthesis and T-lymphocyte transformation 2
Clinical Applications of Restorative Medications
Acute Illness Recovery
For severe stages of illness characterized by symptoms like dyspnea and cold limbs, restorative medications like ginseng, aconitine, and Cornus officinalis are used to restore Yang and rescue from collapse 1
Chinese patent medicines such as Xuebijing injection, Shenfu injection, or Shengmai injection are recommended for severe stages of illness to restore normal physiological function 1
Chronic Disease Management
Tricyclic antidepressants and serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors are used as part of multimodal strategies for chronic pain management, restoring normal pain perception 1
Physical or restorative therapy may be used alongside medications as part of multimodal strategies for patients with low back pain and other chronic pain conditions 1
Considerations for Prescribing Restorative Medications
Patient-Specific Factors
Restorative medications should be tailored to the individual's specific recovery needs, with consideration of their disease stage and symptom profile 1
For older adults or those with limited life expectancy, medication appropriateness should be carefully evaluated, with some medications being eligible for deprescribing if they provide limited benefit 1
Monitoring and Safety
A strategy for monitoring and managing side effects, adverse effects, and compliance should be in place before prescribing any long-term pharmacologic restorative therapy 1
Some restorative medications like zinc should not be given undiluted by direct injection due to risks of infusion phlebitis and potential increased excretory loss 2
Regulatory Considerations
Some commonly used restorative medications may be unapproved by regulatory agencies like the FDA, requiring pharmacists and healthcare providers to be knowledgeable about their status 3
During drug shortages, temporary importation of non-FDA-approved alternatives may be necessary, as seen with zinc injectable products 2
Emerging Restorative Therapies
Restorative therapies for specific conditions like erectile dysfunction represent a new frontier focused on regenerating diseased tissue rather than just treating symptoms 4
Current evidence for novel restorative therapies like stem cell therapy, platelet-rich plasma, and low-intensity shockwave therapy is limited, requiring further research before widespread adoption 4