| "The
trauma that damages the brain, can also cause epilepsy,
chronic pain disorder, anxiety disorder or post
traumatic stress disorder. All of these conditions
can be improved by prescription drugs." |
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MEDICATION [
back to Recovering from a Brain
injury ]
TBI produces a large array of problems (sequelae) affecting
cognition, speech, movement, mood, personality, behavior, sleep,
appetite and sexual function. The trauma that damages the brain,
can also cause epilepsy, chronic pain disorder, anxiety disorder
or post traumatic stress disorder. All of these conditions can
be improved by prescription drugs. Choice of medications should
be guided by effectiveness, safety (avoidance of toxic interactions)
and efficiency (using one combination drug to alleviate related
problems, rather than separate pills for each problem). While
relief from pain or anxiety is very important, care must be
taken to avoid over-sedation. Poly-pharmacy (the administration
of many drugs for many problems) can have unintended and unanticipated
side effects. The same TBI patient may be getting prescriptions
from a neurologist, psychiatrist, internist and orthopedist.
For the benefit of the patient, it is best to have overall drug
management in the hands of one skilled physician, such as a
physiatrist or neurologist. Over-medication and under-medication
both stall recovery. The goal is to make the patient comfortable
while promoting the goals of rehabilitation. Problems for which
medication can help people with a TBI can be found by following
the links below. |
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