A 69-year-old man with a diagnosis of delirium has symptoms of psychosis which include: frightening auditory and visual hallucinations and paranoid delusions. Which of the following medications should be chosen first for this man’s symptoms?
a.Haloperidol
b.quetiapine
c.valium
d.olanzepine
e.ziprasidone
ans:
Haloperidol is a commonly used drug to treat the psychotic symptoms that may be apparent in delirious patients. If the patient is agitated, the drug can be safely given IM, but should be switched over to a low dose of oral medication as soon as the patient is willing and/or able to do so. Drugs with significant anticholinergic activity should be avoided in delirious patients, as should benzodiazepines in the elderly