Which medicine is best for head injury?

Which medicine is best for head injury?

Head Injury Medication

• Osmotic diuretics.
• Anticonvulsants.
• Electrolytes.
• Barbiturates.
• Calcium Channel Blocker.
• Stimulants.
• Dopamine agonist.
• Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors.

Which medication should not be given to a patient with a head injury?

During the first 24 hours you should avoid medications that can increase risk of bleeding. These include aspirin, ibuprofen (Advil), and naproxen sodium (Naprosyn, Aleve). During the first 24 hours acetaminophen (Tylenol) can be used for pain relief.

How does pentobarbital reduce intracranial pressure?

Barbiturates are believed to reduce ICP by suppressing cerebral metabolism, thus reducing cerebral metabolic demands and cerebral blood volume.

Is Propofol contraindicated in head injury?

These results suggest that a propofol-based sedation and an ICP control regimen is a safe, acceptable, and, possibly, desirable alternative to an opiate-based sedation regimen in intubated head-injured patients.

What is the difference between phenobarbital and pentobarbital?

Pentobarbital is often subject to comparison with phenobarbital, another barbiturate, in the use of refractory status epilepticus. Studies have found that pentobarbital is superior in that it has faster brain penetration and a shorter half-life, making it the treatment of choice.

What are the side effects of pentobarbital?

Common side effects of pentobarbital include:

• Skin swelling (rare)
• Slow heart rate.
• Low blood pressure (hypotension)
• Agitation.
• Loss of balance or coordination.
• Central nervous system (CNS) depression.
• Confusion.
• Dizziness.

What happens if you hit your head while on blood thinners?

“For people on blood thinners, any head injury — even a fall from ground level — can be dangerous. A non-event head injury in someone taking a blood thinner can cause a brain bleed causing blood to collect on the outside or inside of the brain in a hematoma.”

What kind of seizures can phenobarbital be used for?

Phenobarbital is approved in the United States by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for add-on therapy for partial and tonic-clonic seizures. It has been used alone for more than 80 years, however, to treat partial and tonic-clonic seizures. It is also used for treatment of status epilepticus. Phenobarbital is available in several forms.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of phenobarbital?

Phenobarbital is a barbiturate, a class of medicines used to bring on sedation or sleepiness. This can be a disadvantage, along with behavioral changes and the risk of withdrawal seizures. The advantages of phenobarbital are its long history of use, low cost, and effectiveness.

How often can you take phenobarbital for a fever?

Because 2 days or more may be required to achieve a high enough level of medication in the blood to control seizures, giving phenobarbital after a fever begins will not be effective. Instead, it must be given daily.

Is it safe to take phenobarbital while pregnant?

There also is a danger to the baby from withdrawal symptoms if the mother has taken phenobarbital in the last few months of pregnancy, since barbiturates cross the placenta into the baby. In general, it is wise for patients to avoid alcohol while taking phenobarbital.