Neuropsychiatric effects of drugs in the elderly.
Since the elderly consume large numbers of drugs, drug-induced disease must be high on the list as a suspected cause of changes in behavior. Neuropsychiatric side effects of drugs in the elderly are not rare events. While proceeding to investigate medical, neurological, and psychiatric causes of a change in the cognitive status or behavior in an elderly patient, it is important to consider a possible psychotoxic drug as an offender or co-offender. Failing to do so may lead to inappropriate testing and further unnecessary and possibly deleterious therapeutic measures. In the case of dementia, the worst treatment would be institutionalization before identifying a drug as the cause of the cognitive dysfunction.
Williams
L
L
University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville.
Caranasos
G J
GJ
D000368:Aged; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects*; D064420:Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions; D006801:Humans; D008606:Mental Processes / Q000187:drug effects*