Head Injury

What Medications Are Used to Treat Head Injuries? 

When a head injury is mild, doctors typically recommend conservative treatment. In this case, a person may be put on bedrest and encouraged to use an over-the-counter pain reliever to manage symptoms. Monitoring is also important to ensure the condition doesn’t worsen.  

With more serious bouts of head injury, doctors can prescribe one or more of the following medications: 

• Diuretics – A head injury can sometimes cause fluid to accumulate in the brain. Diuretics are medications that eliminate fluid and prevent worsening health effects caused by increasing pressure.  

• Drugs to Induce Comas – With severe head injuries, it’s sometimes necessary to put a patient in a medically-induced coma. This reduces the oxygen needed for the brain to function, which is beneficial when there’s significant pressure in the skull.  

• Anti-Seizure Medications – Anti-seizure medications are often prescribed on a temporary basis to combat the risk of seizures, which can be higher in the time immediately following a head injury.  

Some individuals may also require surgery after a severe head injury, which can repair skull fractures, reduce pressure, and address bleeding in the brain.