Prescription medication use in persons many years following traumatic brain injury.
BACKGROUND
This research study examined the prevalence of prescription medication use in persons many years following moderate-to-severe traumatic brain injury (TBI).


METHODS
Retrospective cohort study.


METHODS
Consecutive records were examined of persons with moderate-to-severe TBI who were discharged from a large rehabilitation hospital in Pennsylvania from 1973-1989. Consenting participants (n = 306) were interviewed, who were traced up to 24 years post-injury. Data on current use of prescription medications, in addition to demographic characteristics and health conditions were collected from the participants.


RESULTS
The prevalence of prescription medication was 58.9% in the sample, greater in females (65.6%) than in males (56.1%). The most prescribed medication types were anti-convulsants (25.8%) followed by anti-depressants (8.2%), painkillers (8.2%) and anti-anxiety medications (5.9%). On average, persons with TBI were prescribed 2.64 (SD = 2.14) medications with a range of 1-12.


CONCLUSIONS
The research findings indicate a high prevalence of prescription medications in persons with past history of TBI. There is also a high prevalence of anti-convulsants medication use.
Yasseen
Baseer
B
Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Colantonio
Angela
A
Ratcliff
Graham
G
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000700:Analgesics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D004812:Epidemiologic Methods; D004834:Epilepsy, Post-Traumatic / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010414:Pennsylvania / Q000453:epidemiology; D055553:Prescription Drugs / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012893:Sleep Wake Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology
D000700:Analgesics; D000927:Anticonvulsants; D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D055553:Prescription Drugs