Cause 2: Medications – The Double-Edged Sword
Medications, as vital as they are for treating countless ailments, come with their share of caveats. Picture this: a person, especially an elderly one, is on multiple medications. Each pill, carefully prescribed to manage a specific ailment. But together, this cocktail might be brewing a storm, one that manifests as delirium.
Certain medications, when taken in isolation or in combination with others, can influence neurotransmitter activity in the brain. Drugs, including but not limited to sedatives, certain painkillers, and even some antihistamines, have been linked to delirium onset. The mechanism? Some of these medications can have anticholinergic effects, which means they reduce the activity of acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter vital for cognitive function.
The challenge here is multi-fold. First, recognizing that a medication might be the culprit behind delirium requires thorough medical oversight. Patients, especially those on polypharmacy (multiple medications), should undergo periodic reviews of their medication list. Medication-induced delirium, while concerning, often reverses once the offending drug is identified and discontinued or adjusted. (2)
