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Does Norco Cause Hallucinations And Confusion?
My 90-year old father has been at a skilled nursing/rehab. facility for the past 12 weeks due to hip surgery after a fall at his home. About 10 days ago, his surgeon cleared him to start walking with both legs. However, last week, my dad fell on three separate occasions when he was alone and left his hospital bed without a person to assist him. We have also noticed that he is slurring his words, describing vivid technicolor life-like dreams, and describes holes in the floor through which he can read a clock. I suspect a bad reaction to pain medication (Norco) introduced by the nurse after the first fall last week. The nursing home disagrees and claims my dad is having increasing dementia. My dad has never had dementia, but was confused after the hip surgery while he was on IV pain killer and oral pain killers for the first 5 days post surgery. Is there some merit to considering Norco as the current source of confusion and possible hallucinations?
Fri, 17 Nov 2017
User's Response
Dr. Ajmal Khan,
General & Family Physician's Response
General & Family Physician's Response
Hi, thanks four your question. I can understand your concerns.
Answer: Medications such as Narco and other opioids, depending on the dose, can cause confusion and hallucinations (acute confusional state) but there are other important aspects in father case that should not be ignored.
As you have mentioned that he was alright before surgery, it looks like one of the following risk factors could be responsible for his condition.
1. Surgery puts enormous stress on body and is a risk factor for delirium and other confusional states.
2. Drugs such as opioids and other medications used during anaesthesia
3. Infection anywhere in the body especially lungs and urinary tract.
4. Derangement in various body salts such as sodium, potassium, etc.
5. Decreased oxygen level (hypoxia) in the blood
6. Stroke,
7. sleep deprivation, old age, dementia, coexisting medical conditions etc.
So, I would recommend that your father be seen by a doctor who will thoroughly examine him and investigate for the cause of his condition and treat him according.
Hope this help. Please feel free to ask for any further clarification.
Answer: Medications such as Narco and other opioids, depending on the dose, can cause confusion and hallucinations (acute confusional state) but there are other important aspects in father case that should not be ignored.
As you have mentioned that he was alright before surgery, it looks like one of the following risk factors could be responsible for his condition.
1. Surgery puts enormous stress on body and is a risk factor for delirium and other confusional states.
2. Drugs such as opioids and other medications used during anaesthesia
3. Infection anywhere in the body especially lungs and urinary tract.
4. Derangement in various body salts such as sodium, potassium, etc.
5. Decreased oxygen level (hypoxia) in the blood
6. Stroke,
7. sleep deprivation, old age, dementia, coexisting medical conditions etc.
So, I would recommend that your father be seen by a doctor who will thoroughly examine him and investigate for the cause of his condition and treat him according.
Hope this help. Please feel free to ask for any further clarification.
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