title: Palliative care: an update on "terminal restlessness".
abstract: Terminal restlessness is a variant of delirium observed in some patients in their last days of life. Readily reversible causes of restlessness should be identified and treated. Benzodiazepines give effective palliation of this condition, and, unlike haloperidol and the phenothiazines, do not exacerbate the existing tendency to myoclonus and convulsions.
authors.affiliation: Bethlehem Hospital, Caulfield, VIC.
authors.forename: A L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Burke
mesh_terms: D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002998:Clonazepam / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003693:Delirium / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D003975:Diazepam / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D008874:Midazolam / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010166:Palliative Care; D010634:Phenobarbital / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011595:Psychomotor Agitation / Q000188:drug therapy*; D013727:Terminal Care
chemical_list: D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents; D000927:Anticonvulsants; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D002998:Clonazepam; D003975:Diazepam; D008874:Midazolam; D010634:Phenobarbital