Amantadine for the agitated head-injury patient.
Traumatic brain injury may be associated with agitated aggressive behaviour and the potential for injury to the patient and staff. We report two cases of recovering brain injury patients with difficult-to-treat destructive behaviour, whose agitation and aggression responded to amantadine. Direct-acting dopamine agonists such as amantadine may be the preferred treatment for patients with behaviour problems in the acute stages of recovery from coma.
Chandler
M C
MC
Rebound, Inc., University of North Carolina.
Barnhill
J L
JL
Gualtieri
C T
CT
D000328:Adult; D000374:Aggression / Q000187:drug effects; D000547:Amantadine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001925:Brain Damage, Chronic / Q000188:drug therapy*; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000150:complications*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D019965:Neurocognitive Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy; D011595:Psychomotor Agitation / Q000188:drug therapy*
D000547:Amantadine