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What Causes Hallucinations, Total Weakness And Forgetfulness While Treating Arthritis, BP And Depression?
Question: 80 year old husband, wears brace for knee arthritis, had lingering cold/cough. Yesterday doc prescribed azithromycin. He took one last night. Fell twice when his leg caved in. 2nd time he could not get himself up. No muscle strength at all. Took an hour to get him back into bed. Happened again a few hours later when he went to pee. He also saw hallucinations of men hanging lace all over our living room. He did know it was a false vision. Has been moaning and talking in his sleep. Seems to have had unusual (for him) short-term memory loss of TV program we watched. I explained it, and he asked the same question about it several times more. Only other new med is synthroid (started a week+ ago). Only other meds are for depression: Wellbutrin for years, and Deplin for several months. and a BP med. Has naropathy. Can it be the infection itself, or the antibiotic? The inability to lift himself by legs or arms off the floor has never happened before.
Brief Answer:
the infection probably
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Although you haven't mentioned an details about his cold (like fever and the rest of symptoms or any tests he may have done), I don't believe it's the drug. It's not supposed to cause hallucinations. Perhaps your husband had some mild form of dementia. Infections may make dementia in such patients much worse. They may not recognize their surroundings (particularly when hospitalized), show signs of confusion and forgetfulness.
In any case it's very important to let your doctor know about it. Your doctor is the best person to decide whether this is an expected effect or an ominous sign of serious infection. Serious infections may cause central nervous system effects. In such cases admission to the hospital might be necessary.
Other cause may include low blood pressure, electrolyte disorders, etc that have to be ruled out.
Regarding his weakness... it's normal for a 80 year old patient to feel weak during the course of infections; sometimes even mild infections may cause it. Other causes will have to be excluded though, like electrolyte disorders, anemia and cereborvascular events. Again your doctor should know about it. Your doctor knows your husband's history and condition prior to the infection, so decisions about his management are easier to take. For example a perfectly healthy patient who suddenly experiences such effects should be urgently investigated. Another patient who had signs of mild dementia and is having a mild infection, can be expected to experience such symptoms. So it's up to your doctor but he has to know and assess your husband's condition as soon as possible.
I hope you find my comments helpful!
Please contact me again, if you'd like any clarification or more information.
Best wishes for a speedy recovery!
the infection probably
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Although you haven't mentioned an details about his cold (like fever and the rest of symptoms or any tests he may have done), I don't believe it's the drug. It's not supposed to cause hallucinations. Perhaps your husband had some mild form of dementia. Infections may make dementia in such patients much worse. They may not recognize their surroundings (particularly when hospitalized), show signs of confusion and forgetfulness.
In any case it's very important to let your doctor know about it. Your doctor is the best person to decide whether this is an expected effect or an ominous sign of serious infection. Serious infections may cause central nervous system effects. In such cases admission to the hospital might be necessary.
Other cause may include low blood pressure, electrolyte disorders, etc that have to be ruled out.
Regarding his weakness... it's normal for a 80 year old patient to feel weak during the course of infections; sometimes even mild infections may cause it. Other causes will have to be excluded though, like electrolyte disorders, anemia and cereborvascular events. Again your doctor should know about it. Your doctor knows your husband's history and condition prior to the infection, so decisions about his management are easier to take. For example a perfectly healthy patient who suddenly experiences such effects should be urgently investigated. Another patient who had signs of mild dementia and is having a mild infection, can be expected to experience such symptoms. So it's up to your doctor but he has to know and assess your husband's condition as soon as possible.
I hope you find my comments helpful!
Please contact me again, if you'd like any clarification or more information.
Best wishes for a speedy recovery!
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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