When someone suffers a brain injury, medication may be required to control and limit secondary damage to the brain. The selection of the right medication will be largely dependent upon the type of injury the person has suffered and the other types of treatment they are receiving.
Medications for Brain Injuries
The most popular types of medications for brain injuries include:
- Diuretics – This medicine is used in a variety of medical applications. Simply put, diuretics encourage the tissues throughout the body to release fluid they are collecting, which then leaves the body as urine. When a person suffers a brain injury, diuretics can be used to reduce the amount of fluid that gathers in the brain and throughout the body.
- Anti-seizure medications – For patients who have suffered moderate to severe head injuries, there is an increased risk of seizures occurring. To protect the brain from additional damage, the medical team may decide to prescribe anti-seizure medications to limit or eliminate the risk of seizures and give the brain time to heal without experiencing additional damage.
- Coma-inducing medications – In situations where fluid buildup within the brain leads to decreased oxygen availability, doctors may decide to put the patient into a medically induced coma. Because the brain requires less oxygen while in a coma, a medically induced coma can give the doctors time to reduce the fluid and pressure built up in the brain with less risk of creating additional damage.
- Anti-depressants – After a brain injury, the patient may experience depression, anxiety, panic, insomnia and headaches. Anti-depressants can be used to minimize or eliminate some of these conditions.
- Pain Management – Patients typically suffer a significant amount of pain after a brain injury, and throughout the recovery process. In order to address the pain, pain management medications may be prescribed.
- Motor System Medication – After suffering a brain injury, some patients will experience difficulty with muscle spasms and controlling the muscles in their bodies. Motor system medications can help patients control their muscles and bodily movements.
Your doctor may use other medications in your treatment. This is just a list of some of the most common medications used in the treatment of brain injuries, as well as other complications that may arise.
