Neurológia pre prax 2/2012

Drug-induced cognitive impairments

Although somewhat neglected and out of the main focus of recent medical literature, drug-induced cognitive impairments are a serious issue. The present paper aims to provide an overview of pharmaceuticals with potential risks of inducing cognitive impairments. Pharmaceuticals with anticholinergic effects and benzodiazepines are associated with the greatest risk. It is always appropriate to consider possible drug interactions and other risks resulting from the biological and metabolic status of a particular patient. Medications may interfere with cognition indirectly by affecting metabolism, such as in hypoglycaemia or drug-induced hyponatraemia; by inducing hypotension and hypoperfusion of the CNS; and by activities that may interfere with synaptic transmission.

Keywords: cognitive impairments, delirium, dementia.