Drugs with anticholinergic properties: cognitive and neuropsychiatric side-effects in elderly patients

Iacopo Cancelli; Massimiliano Beltrame; Gian Luigi Gigli; Mariarosaria Valente

doi:10.1007/s10072-009-0033-y

Drugs with anticholinergic properties: cognitive and neuropsychiatric side-effects in elderly patients

Neurol Sci. 2009 Apr;30(2):87-92. doi: 10.1007/s10072-009-0033-y. Epub 2009 Feb 20.

Authors

Iacopo Cancelli¹, Massimiliano Beltrame, Gian Luigi Gigli, Mariarosaria Valente

Affiliation

¹ Department of Neurology, Santa Maria Della Misericordia University Hospital, Udine, Italy.

PMID: 19229475
DOI: 10.1007/s10072-009-0033-y

Abstract

Drug consumption in older people is usually high and many prescribed medications have unsuspected anticholinergic (ACH) (Table 1) properties. Drug induced ACH side-effects are particularly severe in aging brain and even more in demented patients. This review will focus on the association between ACH drug intake and the risk of developing central nervous system side-effects in elderly people. The threat of developing cognitive impairment, psychosis and delirium will be particularly analyzed.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Affective Disorders, Psychotic / chemically induced*
Affective Disorders, Psychotic / physiopathology
Affective Disorders, Psychotic / psychology
Age Factors
Aged
Aging / physiology*
Brain / drug effects*
Brain / metabolism
Brain / physiopathology
Cholinergic Antagonists / adverse effects*
Cognition Disorders / chemically induced*
Cognition Disorders / physiopathology
Cognition Disorders / psychology
Delirium / chemically induced
Delirium / physiopathology
Delirium / psychology
Drug Interactions / physiology
Humans
Risk Assessment
Risk Factors

Substances

Cholinergic Antagonists