PhysicalTherapy.com Phone: 866-782-6258


Medication Side Effect: Confusion

Kenneth L. Miller, PT, DPT, GCS, CEEAA

November 4, 2015

Share:

Question

Do medications cause confusion at times and if so which ones are able to do so?  

Answer

As therapists, we need to start looking at the medications and their side effects to see if they are possibly having confusion side effects.  This may be the problem the patient is having all along.   Antidepressants cause confusion.  Opioid analgesics cause confusion.  Drugs with anticholinergic effects also cause confusion.  Certain medications become toxic in the blood.  They have a very long half-life and they have to be monitored with blood work to make sure that the medicine is not going to a toxic level.  Two medications in particular that cause problems related to toxicity are lithium and digoxin.  This is one reason why you see these medicines being prescribed less often than they used to be.  As far as lithium goes, they have other antipsychotic medications that do not have the same toxicity.  Digoxin is a heart pill and it is prescribed less than it used to be, because we are catching heart failure at an earlier stage and therefore is able to be treated with diuretics.  Worsening of confusion for people with mild cognitive impairment can also occur with specific medications.  Be aware of this as you are treating your patients.  See what they are taking, and if you are not sure if what they are taking is causing this, I recommend downloading a free app called WebMD to put on your iPhone or android device.  With this app, you can look up any medication and it will tell you the indications for use, all the side effects, and it will have pictures of the medications inorder to determine generic pills over name brands.  


kenneth l miller

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.  

 


Related Courses

Optimizing Patient Outcomes: Navigating Medical Errors and Preventing Harm and Readmissions
Presented by Kenneth L. Miller, PT, DPT, GCS, CEEAA
Live WebinarWed, Apr 24, 2024 at 2:00 pm EDT
Wed, Apr 24, 2024 at 2:00 pm EDT

Presenter

Kenneth L. Miller, PT, DPT, GCS, CEEAA
Course: #4908Level: Introductory2 Hours
This course defines what medical errors are, how they happen, and what can be done to improve the quality of care, patient safety, and reduce readmissions. Many errors are preventable when safeguards such as procedural checklists are put in place and situational awareness is enhanced.

Maintenance Therapy in Home Health: Revisited
Presented by Kenneth L. Miller, PT, DPT, GCS, CEEAA
Audio

Presenter

Kenneth L. Miller, PT, DPT, GCS, CEEAA
Course: #3136Level: Introductory2 Hours
  'Reemphasis was done on the rules set for maintenance home health therapy'   Read Reviews
The Medicare Benefit for Home Health under Part A includes both restorative care and maintenance therapy. The Benefit Manual clearly states that coverage determination for maintenance service provided is not dependent on any "improvement standard" but, rather on whether there is a need for skilled care. The purpose of this course is to provide the CMS regulations regarding maintenance therapy in home health define rehabilitation and maintenance level care and provide examples of appropriate maintenance episodes.

Learning to Lead
Presented by Kenneth L. Miller, PT, DPT, GCS, CEEAA
Recorded Webinar

Presenter

Kenneth L. Miller, PT, DPT, GCS, CEEAA
Course: #4426Level: Introductory2 Hours
  'Very easy to listen to'   Read Reviews
This course will provide the participant with a roadmap for developing or refining leadership skills in whatever role they serve as clinician, academician, or administrator. The roles of manager and leader will be explained in terms of motivation, productivity, and engagement.

Put Down the Drugs: Evidence-Based Interventions to Reduce Unwanted Behaviors with Dementia
Presented by Kathleen D. Weissberg, OTD, OTR/L, CMDCP, CDP, CFPS
Recorded Webinar

Presenter

Kathleen D. Weissberg, OTD, OTR/L, CMDCP, CDP, CFPS
Course: #3072Level: Intermediate1 Hour
  'Good information'   Read Reviews
PTs can apply evidence-based interventions to improve dementia care. This session reviews the etiology of common behaviors. Cognitive-emotion, multi-sensory, animal-assisted, and exercise interventions to reduce agitation are discussed as well as specific strategies for improving task-related engagement. This course is directly related to the practice of physical therapy and is therefore appropriate for the PT and PTA.

Supporting the LGBTQ Senior in Healthcare
Presented by Kathleen D. Weissberg, OTD, OTR/L, CMDCP, CDP, CFPS
Recorded Webinar

Presenter

Kathleen D. Weissberg, OTD, OTR/L, CMDCP, CDP, CFPS
Course: #4096Level: Intermediate2 Hours
  'The instructor was clear and experienced and had interesting anecdotes to share/illustrate the concepts'   Read Reviews
This training describes the required elements for responding to the emerging needs of long term care communities to provide sensitive and respectful services to LGBT elders. The training reviews definitions related to sexual orientation and gender identity challenges experienced by LGBT older adults, and strategies for communication and policies that honor residents' rights. This course is directly related to the practice of physical therapy and is therefore appropriate for the PT and PTA.

Our site uses cookies to improve your experience. By using our site, you agree to our Privacy Policy.