Antibiotics and delirium

Antibiotics are important to help cure different conditions; however, they can also be the culprit for a disrupted cognitive function in patients. Even if the mental confusion may be the primary effect of some of the medicines like opiates as well as sleeping pills, some of the people never thought that antibiotics will be on the list.  On the other hand, the researchers from a hospital in Boston have discovered that the antibiotic being prescribed to people nowadays may lead to delirium along with agitation and hallucinations.

Delirium is the feeling of restlessness, fatigue and the feeling of being disoriented.  In a study conducted to 391 patients for 70 years who had developed delirium and other related brain defects after being given antibiotics for their condition. 54 varieties of antibiotics from twelve different classes were reported that includes sulfonamides, cirprofloxacin to name some. Some of the IV types are also included like the penicillin as well as cefepime. This has been described and noted in the neuro journal of the patients who joined the test.

The effects of antibiotics among patients

Among the patients who went through the test, 47% of them had delusions, 15% had muscle twitching or involuntary movement of the muscles, 14% had seizures while the 5% suffered from loss of control in terms of the body movements. Moreover, EEG tests showed that 70% of the patients suffered from abnormal electrical brain activity. People who suffered from delirium are more prone to other complications, they are prone to going to a nursing home instead of having home care after being hospitalized, and they will likely die than those who haven’t had delirium in their life. This is according to an author in a Harvard school.

There are different kinds of delirium and the problems in the brain linked with the use of antibiotics.

  1. Type 1. This is about the patient having seizures mostly linked with the use of cephalosporins or penicillin.

  2. Type 2 shows some signs of psychosis linked with the use of penicillin, procaine and sulfomides.

  3. Type 3 is about the abnormal brain scan results, muscle impairment, loss of muscle coordination and other dysfunction of the brain.

Types 1 & 2 signs happened days after taking the antibiotic. The signs will soon be gone after days of not taking the drug. For the type 3 on the other hand show some signs after some time of using the pill. The signs show off much longer than the other types.  By knowing the type of antibiotics, you can prevent delirium from ruining your life. You can do something to prevent it from harming your brain and from impairing you to do normal things.