[Agitation in head injury. II. Treatment with antidepressant, sympathomimetic, beta blocker , dopaminergic and other drugs]

To review the literature of the past 20 years, using the articles indexed in MEDLINE, on the drug treatment of agitation in traumatic head injury.The treatment of agitation in traumatic head injury should be based on well-designed, randomised, placebo-controlled studies which justify any particular decision regarding drug use. However, care of the agitated traumatic head injury patient is based on the management of other related disorders, on the response of similar patient populations and clinical experience based on empirical observation. Amongst the drugs available, carbamazepine is the most widely used for post-traumatic agitation, followed by antidepressants and as a third option propranolol. We discuss other drugs which are used less frequently in post-traumatic agitation.Many drugs are used and there is little agreement on the subject. However, with regard to certain characteristics of the agitation, different pharmacological treatments may be recommended.