Medications for persons with brain injury are carefully selected, prescribed, and monitored by the treatment team on an individual basis. The physician or pharmacist can explain a medication’s purpose and side effects. A general explanation of medication groups is described below.
- Analgesics may be used for pain relief and pain management.
- Anti-Anxiety Agents may lesson feelings of uncertainty, nervousness, and fear.
- Anti-Coagulants may be used to prevent blood clots.
- Anti-Convulsants may be used to prevent seizures.
- Anti-Depressants may be used to treat symptoms of depression.
- Anti-Psychotics may be used to target psychotic symptoms of combativeness, hostility, hallucinations, and sleep disorders.
- Muscle Relaxants may be used to reduce muscle spasms or spasticity.
- Sedative-Hypnotic Agents may be used to induce sleep or depress the central nervous system in areas of mental and physical response, awareness, sleep, and pain.
- Stimulants may be used to increase levels of alertness and attention.
