Medication Information
Common medications used by individuals with SCI/D
Following SCI/D Spinal cord injury or dysfunction. , medications are common. While everyone’s medication regimen will be different, we have included a list of medications most commonly used by individuals with SCI/D Spinal cord injury or dysfunction. .
- Antibiotics Class of medications used to treat bacterial infections by killing or inhibiting bacterial growth.
- Antidepressants Class of medication used to treat depression and other mood disorders.
- Benzodiazepines Class of drugs that slow down activity in the brain and nervous system. Can be used to treat anxiety, depression, seizures or sleep disorders.
- Laxatives A class of medications taken to loosen stool to produce a bowel movement and relieve constipation.
- Muscle relaxants Class of medications used to help loosen tight muscles in the body. They can be used to treat muscle spasms or certain types of muscle pain.
- Opioids Class of pain-relieving medication that work by blocking pain signals in the brain. Examples include drugs like morphine, oxycodone, and fentanyl. (narcotics analgesics)
References
Guilcher, S. J., Hogan, M.E., Calzavara, A., Hitzig, S. L., Patel, T., Packer, T., & Lofters, A. K. (2018). Prescription drug claims following a traumatic spinal cord injury for older adults: A retrospective population-based study in Ontario, Canada. Spinal Cord, 56(11), 1059–1068. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41393-018-0174-z
Guilcher, S. J., Hogan, M.E., McCormack, D., Calzavara, A. J., Hitzig, S. L., Patel, T., Packer, T., Guan, Q., & Lofters, A. K. (2020). Prescription medications A medication that is only available with written instructions from a healthcare provider (e.g., doctor, dentist, pharmacist). dispensed following a nontraumatic spinal cord dysfunction: A retrospective population-based study in Ontario, Canada. Spinal Cord, 59(2), 132–140. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41393-020-0511-x
Kitzman, P., Cecil, D., & Kolpek, J. H. (2016). The risks of Polypharmacy following Spinal Cord Injury. The Journal of Spinal Cord Medicine, 40(2), 147–153. https://doi.org/10.1179/2045772314y.0000000235