In acute delirium, which medication class is commonly used to manage agitation?

In acute delirium, which medication class is commonly used to manage agitation?

• A. Beta blockers
• B. Antidepressants
• C. Antihistamines
• D. Antipsychotics

Answer: (D)

Antipsychotics are commonly used to manage agitation in acute delirium because they blunt the excessive dopaminergic activity that contributes to agitation, hallucinations, and disorganized behavior. This helps calm the patient quickly so that underlying medical causes can be addressed and safety for patient and staff is maintained. Nonpharmacologic measures are first-line, but when agitation threatens care, antipsychotics provide reliable, rapid control. Benzodiazepines are usually avoided in delirium since they can worsen confusion and prolong the episode. Other drug classes don’t target the core delirium agitation in the same way: beta blockers treat sympathetic symptoms, antidepressants address mood symptoms with a slower onset, and antihistamines can worsen delirium due to anticholinergic effects.

Antipsychotics are commonly used to manage agitation in acute delirium because they blunt the excessive dopaminergic activity that contributes to agitation, hallucinations, and disorganized behavior. This helps calm the patient quickly so that underlying medical causes can be addressed and safety for patient and staff is maintained. Nonpharmacologic measures are first-line, but when agitation threatens care, antipsychotics provide reliable, rapid control. Benzodiazepines are usually avoided in delirium since they can worsen confusion and prolong the episode. Other drug classes don’t target the core delirium agitation in the same way: beta blockers treat sympathetic symptoms, antidepressants address mood symptoms with a slower onset, and antihistamines can worsen delirium due to anticholinergic effects.