Which drug class is among the three most common causes of delirium?

Which drug class is among the three most common causes of delirium?

• A. Benzodiazepines
• B. Antibiotics
• C. Antihypertensives
• D. Statins

Answer: (A)

Medications are a major and modifiable cause of delirium, and benzodiazepines are among the most common offenders. Their strong CNS depressant effects can blunt attention and cognition, leading to acute confusion, especially in older adults whose brain reserve and drug clearance are reduced. Long-acting benzodiazepines tend to accumulate in the elderly, increasing the risk of delirium, and withdrawal or dose changes can also precipitate it. While antibiotics, antihypertensives, and statins can occasionally contribute to delirium, benzodiazepines are the class most consistently linked to this condition in clinical practice, making them a leading culprit to review and adjust when delirium develops.

Medications are a major and modifiable cause of delirium, and benzodiazepines are among the most common offenders. Their strong CNS depressant effects can blunt attention and cognition, leading to acute confusion, especially in older adults whose brain reserve and drug clearance are reduced. Long-acting benzodiazepines tend to accumulate in the elderly, increasing the risk of delirium, and withdrawal or dose changes can also precipitate it.

While antibiotics, antihypertensives, and statins can occasionally contribute to delirium, benzodiazepines are the class most consistently linked to this condition in clinical practice, making them a leading culprit to review and adjust when delirium develops.