Comparative Tolerability of Sedative Agents in Head-injured Adults

Overview

Journal Drug Saf

Specialties Pharmacology
Toxicology

Date 2004 Jan 14

PMID 14717622

Citations 16

Authors

Susan C Urwin

David K Menon

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Sedative agents are widely used in the management of patients with head injury. These drugs can facilitate assisted ventilation and may provide useful reductions in cerebral oxygen demand. However, they may compromise cerebral oxygen delivery via their cardiovascular effects. In addition, individual sedative agents have specific and sometimes serious adverse effects. This review focuses on the different classes of sedative agents used in head injury, with a discussion of their role in the context of clinical pathophysiology. While there is no sedative that has all the desirable characteristics for an agent in this clinical setting, careful titration of dose, combination of agents, and a clear understanding of the pathophysiology and pharmacology of these agents will allow safe sedative administration in head injury.

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