News Briefs: OTC drug ingredient increases confusion
Caregivers for older patients should take note of a study conducted by Yale University School of Medicine in New Haven, CT, that found medications containing diphenhydramine hydrochloride increased the risk for symptoms such as inattention, disorganized speech, and altered consciousness.
The study followed 426 patients older than 70 who were hospitalized for a variety of reasons. Older patients exposed to diphenhydramine hydrochloride also were at greater risk for urinary catheter placement and increased length of stay.
Researchers found that 24% of the diphenhydramine doses were administered inappropriately, further increasing the risk of cognitive decline for older patients.
Even in nonhospitalized older patients, caregivers should be aware of the increased risk for delirium and related symptoms because diphenhydramine is a common ingredient in over-the-counter sleep aids and medications used to control allergy symptoms.
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