Help for Overmedicated Brain Injury Patients

Just as there are many causes of traumatic brain injury, the effects that such an injury produces are also varied. For example, some individuals experience difficulty with short-term memory, while others develop psychiatric symptoms, such as depression, hallucinations and paranoia. Motor impairment is also a common effect.

Though there are various forms of brain injury rehabilitation, undoubtedly the most common treatment is medication.The medication prescribed for those with a traumatic brain injury includes anti-depressants, mood stabilizers, stimulants, anti-psychotics and beta-blockers. While no one would dispute that these medicines are helpful in many cases, some allege that in many cases, patients with brain damage treatment are being overmedicated.

The Florida Institute for Neurologic Rehabilitation cautions doctors to be very careful in prescribing medicine for patients with traumatic brain injuries, and it offers resources to patients and families who need help. For example, some anti-depressants cause motor restlessness, weight gain, increased aggression and suicidal ideations. Mood stabilizers have been known to decrease both white and red blood cell counts, as well as causing bone marrow suppression and even liver failure, particularly in children. Aside from lowering the blood pressure and decreasing the heart rate of some patients, beta-blockers have been found to cause bronchial constriction.

No one would say that medication isn’t useful for many patients. However, it should not be automatically prescribed to every patient. In consultation with a doctor, a patient should be able to decide what medication is right for him or her, or if she or he wants to have medication at all. Any patient taking medication should be closely monitored for side effects. Two patients with the same injury may have very different reactions to the same treatment, so treatments should be customized based on what is right for the individual patient.

For more information about the effects from different medications used to treat traumatic brain injury, go to its brain injury and neuropharmacology webpage

Located in Wauchula, Florida, the Florida Institute for Neurologic Rehabilitation offers various programs for rehabilitation of patients having brain injuries. Geared to individuals who no longer need acute medical care, patients there live in a community setting and enjoy daily activities that are therapeutic in various ways. It also has a center in Sarasota, Florida. Anyone desiring to learn more about the Institute can go to its homepage: http://www.finr.net.