An elderly patient had gastric surgery due to a gastrointestinal bleed 3 days ago, and he has been stable since the surgery. This evening, his daughter tells the nurse, "He seems to be more confused this afternoon. He's never been like this. What could be the problem?" The nurse reviews the patient's medication record and suspects that which drug could be the cause of the patient's confusion?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Sometimes H₂ receptor antagonists such as cimetidine may cause adverse effects related to the central nervous system in the elderly, including confusion and disorientation. The nurse needs to be alert for mental status changes when giving these drugs, especially if the changes are new to the patient.

An Elderly Patient Had Gastric Surgery Due to a Gastrointestinal