Abstract

DRUG INDUCED DELIRIUM IN GERIATRIC PATIENTS: AN OVERVIEW

Anjana Baby*, Sara Yeldhos, Jasmy E. S., Sharon Ann Varghese and Megha Anna Varghese

Abstract

Drug induced delirium is one of the most common psychological problem in Geriatric patient's, this is mainly due to polypharmacy. In addition to polypharmacy, altered pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics seen with aging and associated co-morbidities have a crucial role with drugs in causing delirium. About 12-39% of all case of delirium is due to drugs, mainly due to drugs that act on the brain including narcotics, painkillers, sedatives (particularly benzodizepines) stimulants, anti depressants, Parkinson's disease medication and antipsycotics. The aim of the article to provide an idea about how to control drug induced delirium in geriatric patients by early recognization and provide proper pharmacological and non pharmacological management for drug induced delirium,it also reviews about the mechanism of action of the condition and discuss about the age related changes that result in altered pharmacological effect and the pharmacist intervention of drug induced delirium are discussed.

Keywords: Drug induced delirium, geriatric Patients, Polypharmacy, Pharmacist intervention.