A large U.S. study suggests that older adults hospitalized with delirium may experience better outcomes when treated with trazodone, commonly used to treat depression and sleep problems, rather than commonly used antipsychotic medications. Delirium, a sudden state of confusion that often affects older adults during or after hospitalization, is frequently treated with medications despite limited evidence about which drugs are safest.
The study, “Safety outcomes of trazodone versus antipsychotics for delirium after hospital admission in adults aged 65 years and older,” was published in The Lancet Healthy Longevity. Researchers analyzed nationwide health data from adults aged 65 and older who were treated with medications for delirium following hospital admission. They compared patients who received…