Traumatic brain injuries often occur by coincidence in both adults and children. They cause hematomas and concussions. Such injuries often have long-term consequences: after decades, an untreated craniocerebral injury can make itself felt with severe migraines or memory lapses. Medications for concussion in adults will help normalize intracranial pressure, dilate blood vessels, help resolve the hematoma, and minimize possible unpleasant consequences of the injury.
Symptoms and differences of concussion from other injuries
Concussion is characterized by special symptoms. Most often, acute symptoms appear immediately after a stroke. Delayed symptoms begin to bother three to four hours after the fact of the injury.
In the first fifteen to twenty minutes after receiving a head injury, the patient often has the following acute symptoms:
- arrhythmia;
- a sharp headache;
- loss of consciousness;
- nausea and vomiting;
- dizziness;
- darkening in the eyes.
After four hours from the moment of the injury, delayed symptoms can indicate itself: these may be memory lapses (palimpsests), fainting, inappropriate behavior, severe migraine. During this period, it is already possible to start therapy and the use of medications for concussion at home.
Methods for diagnosing and treating concussion
Before using drugs, it is desirable to establish the severity of a traumatic brain injury. A neurologist or traumatologist conducts an objective examination of the victim: assesses the coherence of his speech, the adequacy of behavior, memories of personal data. If the patient, for one reason or another, cannot provide all the information, the doctor should conduct a survey of relatives or persons who were near the victim at the time of the injury.
Studies to help determine the severity of the concussion:
- Doppler ultrasound (examination of brain areas using ultrasound equipment);
- electroencephalography (EEG - a standard procedure in neurology);
- ophthalmography.
If there is a suspicion of the possibility of developing cerebral edema and the formation of hematomas, the victim needs to undergo a diagnostic procedure on a magnetic resonance imager. What medications are used for a concussion, you will find out below.
Medication for concussion
There are three main areas of treatment:
- concussion medications: tablets, capsules, droppers and injections;
- physiotherapeutic procedures;
- surgery - if the severity of the injuries received is high.
During treatment, the patient must observe rest and bed rest. It does not matter where the therapy takes place - at home or in the hospital. The patient should not worry and bother, he should eat fully, abandon bad habits and sleep at least ten hours a day.
For the medical treatment of concussions of various severity and complexity, the following types of pharmacological preparations are used:
- analgesics for traumatic brain injuries;
- nootropic drugs for concussion;
- antiemetic medications for concussion;
- diuretic drugs;
- sedatives with sedative effect;
- taking tranquilizers and soporific drugs from concussion;
- vitamin and mineral complexes.
List of analgesics for traumatic brain injuries
Analgesic drugs are prescribed to reduce headaches that were triggered by a concussion of the brain structures. Combined drugs not only have an analgesic effect, but also sedative, sedative. They help to fall asleep faster, relieve the anxiety and nervousness characteristic of the patient in the first week after receiving a traumatic brain injury.
- Aspirin is the most popular acetylsalicylic acid analgesic. Effectively reduces pain, relieves fever and chills, reduces temperature. The relatively low cost of these pills makes them preferable and affordable for any social strata of the population.
- Pentalgin N is a fairly strong anesthetic. It is available on prescription, but this does not prevent many pharmacies from selling the drug from under the counter. The main danger during administration is the appearance of drug dependence on pain and sedation effects.
Nootropic drugs for concussion
Drugs of this class are designed to improve cerebral functions and improve blood circulation. What medications for concussion choose from nootropics?
- "Piracetam" or its analogue, supplemented with vitamins "Phezam", have a mild vasodilator, sedative and sedative effect. Relate to the nootropics of the old generation. Low cost: about one hundred and fifty rubles per pack. When used continuously, it significantly improves memory and cognitive abilities.
- “Cinnarizine”, although it belongs to the class of nootropics, has a serious vasodilating effect on the brain. Such an effect in some cases is useful for traumatic brain injuries, and in some cases it is harmful, you should consult with a neurologist before taking it.
- Glycine is an amino acid with a mild nootropic effect. It is cheap and has virtually no side effects. The course of treatment is long - about three months of continuous use without interruption.
Antiemetic medications for concussion
As mentioned above, in some cases, an acute symptom of concussion is indomitable vomiting. To prevent it, it is sometimes required to give the patient a dose of an antiemetic drug.
Medication for concussion with antiemetic effect:
- "Metoclopramide" - a drug designed to stop the attacks of vomiting caused by a violation of the vestibular apparatus.
- “Tserukal” is an effective antiemetic. Widely used for a variety of symptoms and conditions. Effective for traumatic brain injuries, long flights, impaired functioning of the vestibular apparatus.
The feasibility of taking diuretics
Taking diuretics is advisable in cases where there is arterial hypertension or there is a risk of cerebral edema. In this case, removing excess fluid from the body’s tissues will be very helpful and may even save the patient’s life.
What medicine to take with a concussion, provided that a diuretic effect is needed? The two most popular drugs, whose effectiveness has been tested for years, are Furoseimd and Diacarb. Contribute to the withdrawal of fluid from brain tissue during injuries, hematomas, intracranial pressure.
In some cases, traumatologists, neuropathologists prescribe "Diacarb" even to children with similar symptoms:
- headaches and dizziness caused by trauma or ICP;
- nausea and swelling after a head injury;
- loss of consciousness and suspicion of cerebral edema.
There is no point in using diuretics on your own after receiving a head injury - this can cause even more harm to yourself, disrupting the water-salt balance of the body.
Sedatives sedative
After receiving a head injury, the patient often has increased psycho-emotional excitability. The following medications for brain concussion are effective in preventing it:
- "Valerian" in the form of tablets or sachets for the preparation of infusion. It has a mild sedative, sedative and hypnotic effect.
- "Valocordin", as well as "Corvalol" - soothing alcohol tinctures. In case of head injuries, even tiny doses of ethanol are contraindicated in some cases - so taking such tinctures is possible only after consultation with a neurologist.
Taking tranquilizers and soporific drugs for concussion
After a head injury, the patient often cannot fall asleep. he is tormented by anxiety, tremors, chills. To stop such conditions, neurologists prescribe sedatives and tranquilizers.
Medications after a concussion that calm and help sleep:
- Atarax is a fairly powerful tranquilizer. It is released on prescription. The cost is about three hundred rubles. Relieves even severe anxiety and stops panic attacks.
- "Phenazepam" is a strictly prescription drug, an tranquilizer of the old generation. Helps to fall asleep in any condition, relieves excitement, tremor, stops even acute psychosis.
- Sibazon is a rather mild tranquilizer with anti-anxiety and antidepressant effects. But even it is sold only by prescription, which can be taken from an observing neuropathologist.
Vitamin-mineral complexes with concussion to normalize cognitive functions
If a mild concussion was diagnosed, then you can do without taking prescription drugs. Significant relief will bring the intake of vitamin-mineral complexes. Here are the best remedies for restoring cognitive functions, a mild stimulating effect:
- “Berokka” - these effervescent tablets that need to be dissolved in water before taking, are aimed at improving the patient’s mood, eliminating insomnia, relieving anxiety symptoms and stabilizing cerebral circulation. Berokka is not a drug, but a dietary supplement.
- Doppelherz Tranquility is enriched with magnesium and pyridoxine, and also contains a complex of all the minerals and vitamins necessary for humans. Magnesium has a muscle relaxant effect on muscle tissue. It has a mild sedative and hypnotic effect after stress and trauma. Pyridoxine also has a beneficial effect on the central nervous system, and prevents the development of insomnia and anxiety.