If you or a loved one suffer a brain injury, it is good to know that there are treatment options available. With the right approach by a qualified medical team, you have a better chance of recovering and avoiding long term complications.
While not always used, there are certain medications that can help limit secondary damage in the event of a brain injury. The medical staff treating the patient will consider if any of the following drugs should be administered:
— Anti-seizure drugs. In the event of a moderate or severe head injury, seizures are a possibility. For this reason, anti-seizure medication may be administered to help prevent additional damage.
— Diuretics. These drugs are administered to reduce the amount of fluid and increase the frequency and amount of urination. Diuretics can also help reduce pressure in the brain.
— Coma-inducing drugs. Doctors often put a person in a coma because the brain does not need as much oxygen to function in this state. It may sound like a bad idea, but using a coma-inducing drug has many benefits on a person’s overall level of health.
A qualified medical team knows how to deal with every type of brain injury, regardless of what it may be. This often means the administration of drugs, such as the three detailed above.
It’s never easy to help yourself if you have suffered a brain injury. It can be just as hard to watch a loved one deal with such a serious situation. Even with all the challenges, what matters most is that the person receives the right care at the right time.
Source: Mayo Clinic, “Treatments and drugs,” accessed Nov. 24, 2015