The invention relates to a method of treatment and/or prevention of brain, spinal or nerve injury comprising administration to a person in need of such treatment, of a therapeutically effective amount of an NK-1 receptor antagonist compound of the formula
wherein the meanings of R, R1, R2, R2, R3, and R4 are explained in the specification and the pharmaceutically acceptable acid addition salts and the prodrugs thereof either alone or in combination with a magnesium salt. Exemplified is the use of N-(3,5-bis-trifluoromethyl-benzyl)-N-methyl-6-(4-methyl-piperazin-1-yl)-4-o-tolyl-nicotinamide. The invention also relates to pharmaceutical composition comprising one or more such NK-1 receptor antagonists, optionally in combination with a magnesium salt, and a pharmaceutically acceptable excipient for the treatment and/or prevention of brain, spinal or nerve injury.