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Treatments and drugs
By Mayo Clinic staffA coma is a medical emergency, and attention first is given to maintaining respiration and circulation. Assistance with breathing, administration of fluids and blood, and other supportive care may be necessary.
Emergency personnel may administer glucose or antibiotics intravenously, even before blood test results return, on the chance that the person is in diabetic shock or has an infection affecting the brain.
Treatment varies, depending on what's causing the coma. Sometimes surgery is needed to relieve the pressure due to brain swelling. Other treatments may focus on addressing an underlying disease, such as diabetes, kidney failure or liver disease.
Sometimes the cause of a coma can be completely reversed, and the person will regain normal function. But if the brain damage is severe, the person may sustain permanent disabilities or may never regain consciousness.
