The role of the pharmacist in the assessment and management of medication induced delirium

Delirium is a common condition, particularly in hospitalized patients. As many medication classes are implicated in increasing the risk of delirium, a thorough review of medications is an essential component of delirium evaluation and management. The role of the clinical pharmacist is critical in a complete review of medications, doses, side effects, monitoring, and drug-drug interactions that impact the genesis and management of delirium. This chapter will look at the identification of patients at risk, assessment, and the pharmacist’s role in the management of delirium. The roles of the pharmacist within the multidisciplinary medical team management of delirium are reviewed. Various classes of medications commonly implicated in delirium are summarized, with alternative medication choices listed to mitigate delirium risk.