TBI TBI Pharmacological Management 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which medication class is commonly used to manage agitation in the acute phase of TBI?
- Beta-blockers
- Benzodiazepines (Correct answer)
- ACE inhibitors
- Statins
Correct answer: Benzodiazepines
Benzodiazepines are frequently used short-term to control agitation and anxiety during the acute TBI phase.
Question 2: Why is aspirin generally avoided in the immediate post-TBI period?
- It increases intracranial pressure
- It inhibits platelet aggregation and raises bleeding risk (Correct answer)
- It causes cerebral vasospasm
- It interferes with CT imaging
Correct answer: It inhibits platelet aggregation and raises bleeding risk
Aspirin's antiplatelet effects can worsen intracranial hemorrhage in the acute TBI setting.
Question 3: Which antiepileptic drug is most commonly used for seizure prophylaxis in severe TBI within the first 7 days?
- Valproate
- Levetiracetam (Correct answer)
- Phenobarbital
- Carbamazepine
Correct answer: Levetiracetam
Levetiracetam (Keppra) is widely used for early post-traumatic seizure prophylaxis due to its favorable side-effect profile.
Question 4: What is the primary concern with using opioids for pain management in TBI patients?
- They cause hyperthermia
- They can mask neurological changes and worsen consciousness assessment (Correct answer)
- They increase CSF production
- They cause cerebellar atrophy
Correct answer: They can mask neurological changes and worsen consciousness assessment
Opioids alter level of consciousness and pupil reactivity, making accurate neurological monitoring difficult.
Question 5: Which drug is used to reduce cerebral edema by creating an osmotic gradient to draw water from brain tissue?
- Furosemide
- Mannitol (Correct answer)
- Dexamethasone
- Acetazolamide
Correct answer: Mannitol
Mannitol is an osmotic diuretic that reduces cerebral edema by drawing fluid out of brain tissue into the vasculature.
Question 6: Amantadine is prescribed in TBI recovery primarily to address which problem?
- Spasticity
- Disorders of consciousness and cognitive impairment (Correct answer)
- Neuropathic pain
- Seizure activity
Correct answer: Disorders of consciousness and cognitive impairment
Amantadine has dopaminergic and glutamatergic effects that can accelerate recovery from disorders of consciousness in TBI patients.
TBI TBI Pharmacological Management 1
Which medication class is commonly used to manage agitation in the acute phase of TBI?