Drug-induced cognitive impairment

Tadashi Adachi¹⁾²⁾

¹⁾Division of Neuropathology, Department of Brain and Neurosciences, Faculty of Medicine, Tottori University
²⁾Division of Neurology, Department of Brain and Neurosciences, Faculty of Medicine, Tottori University

Nearly all of the innumerable drugs used in clinical practice can cause or exacerbate cognitive impairment, including delirium.　In this review, we describe several commonly used classes of drugs—including benzodiazepines, antipsychotic medications, anti-epileptics, and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, statins—and their associated risks for inducing cognitive impairment, delirium, and dementia.　When drug-induced cognitive impairment is suspected, dosage of the target medication should be decreased or halted for approximately four weeks.　Depending on the patient's condition at that point, use of the drug can be reconsidered or an alternative therapy devised.

Address correspondence to Dr. Tadashi Adachi, Division of Neuropathology, Department of Brain and Neurosciences, Faculty of Medicine, Tottori University（36-1 Nishi-cho, Yonago 683-8504, Japan）