Pharmacology of attention and arousal in the low level patient

Abstract

Pharmacological management of the low level patient is a very challenging prospect for the doctor treating these patients. The use of medications to expedite recovery and improve the function of arousal and attention in this population is both an exciting prospect and at the same time a most daunting task. Review of past literature is of limited value as it consists primarily of case reports, studies with small sample sizes and studies demonstrating limited clinical efficacy. The author has tried in this paper to offer some guidance by reviewing literature defining arousal and attention, briefly discussing the neuroanatomy of the brain, critiquing past literature and offering his own recommendations based on experience.