Answered a question 4/6/2010 at 9:39 pm
Cold and allergy medicine is designed to dry up mucus membranes in the head, This way you do not choke and cough, your nose does not run and so on. If you look at the list of medications that can SIMU
...Read MoreCold and allergy medicine is designed to dry up mucus membranes in the head, This way you do not choke and cough, your nose does not run and so on. If you look at the list of medications that can SIMULATE age related conditions, antihistimines and anticholenergics are the worst. They can cause agitation, anxiety, cardiac arrythmias, confusion, constipation, depression, dizziness, disorientation, depression,fatigue, hypotension, and restlessness, urinary dysfunction and visual disturbances. I am a licensed nursing home administrator and for the past 30 years I have been a geriatric nurse. So yes I have seen this many times. In a long term care environment, staff usually do not have time to look for the underlying cause they just look for the next pill that will give them a quick fix. Your dad needs a medication vacation after about 2 weeks drug free re-assess what issues need to be treated.