We have located links that may give you full text access.
ENGLISH ABSTRACT
JOURNAL ARTICLE
REVIEW
[Psychopharmalogical treatment of delirium in the elderly].
Medizinische Monatsschrift Für Pharmazeuten 2014 April
Delirium is frequent in hospitalized elderly. Treatment of the medical problems causing delirium is paramount. Mostly antipsychotics are used for treatment of psychological and behavioral symptoms in delirium. Increased mortality of elderly and demented patients receiving antipsychotics suggests caution in prescribing antipsychotics for delirium. Standard treatment is low-dose haloperidol. If more sedation is needed, melperone or pipamperone can be used. In delirious Parkinsonian patients or if dementia with Lewy-bodies is suspected quetiapine is better tolerated. Other sedating antipsychotics like prothipendyl, promethazine or levomepromazin are considered inappropriate medication in the elderly due to their anticholinergic and orthostatic side effects. Cholinesterase inhibitors are not effective in delirium, except physostigmine for treatment of anticholinergic intoxication confined to intensive care. Benzodiazepines are effective in alcohol- und benzodiazepine-withdrawal, but may induce delirium (paradox reaction). Clomethiazole is contraindicated in frequent pulmonal conditions in the elderly like COPD. Chloral hydrate is considered inappropriate medication in the elderly due to QTc-prolongation. On intensive care units clonidine and recently dexmedetomidine are useful. At the moment there are no data indicating melatonin being effective for treatment of delirium.
Full text links
Related Resources
Get seemless 1-tap access through your institution/university
For the best experience, use the Read mobile app
All material on this website is protected by copyright, Copyright © 1994-2024 by WebMD LLC.
This website also contains material copyrighted by 3rd parties.
By using this service, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy.
Your Privacy Choices
You can now claim free CME credits for this literature searchClaim now
Get seemless 1-tap access through your institution/university
For the best experience, use the Read mobile app