The present invention relates to a method of treating or preventing a disorder selected from stroke, epilepsy, head trauma, spinal cord trauma, ischemic neuronal damage such as cerebral ischemic damage from stroke or vascular occlusion (e.g., during open heart surgery), excitotoxic neuronal damage (e.g., in stroke or epilepsy) and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis in mammals, including humans, using an NK-1 antagonist. It also relates to a method of treating or preventing such disorders in mammals, including humans, using certain quinuclidine derivatives, piperidine derivatives, pyrrolidine derivatives, azanorbornane derivatives, ethylene diamine derivatives and related compounds that are substance P receptor antagonists.