Can certain medication be the cause of confusion in patients?
Answer
Yes. Antidepressants cause confusion. Opioid analgesics cause confusion. Drugs with anticholinergic effects also cause confusion. Think about whether or not you look at their medications to see if they are the reason for that confusion or do you make the assumption that they have dementia? If we make the assumption that it is dementia, there is an opportunity lost. If it is something related to a medication and medications were just changed, they could function better. Would that not help us with our outcomes getting the patient stronger and to a better place? We need to start looking at the medications and their side effects, and see if they are possibly having confusion side effects. This may be the problem the patient is having all along.
Kenneth L. Miller, PT, DPT, GCS, CEEAA
Dr. Ken Miller, PT, DPT, is a board-certified geriatric clinical specialist and advanced credentialed exercise expert for aging adults. Dr. Miller is an assistant professor at the Medical University of South Carolina in the Division of Physical Therapy and serves as the founding director of the USC Geriatric Residency Program. His clinical focus is on best practices for use with the older adult population. Dr. Miller is the Director overseeing Practice for the Academy of Geriatric Physical Therapy. He has spoken nationally and internationally on topics of gerontology, including pharmacology, primary prevention, frailty, outcome measures, best practices, and pain management for the older adult. Dr. Miller has over 20 years of clinical expertise in risk mitigation and error prevention and is currently researching well-being, mental health, and burnout in physical therapists.
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