Table 2 Medications that can cause delirium and their effects on sleep
From: Bench-to-bedside review: Delirium in ICU patients - importance of sleep deprivation
Medication | Effect |
|---|---|
Analgesics | Â |
   Opioids | Decreased REM, decreased SWS |
   Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agents | Decreased total sleep time, decreased sleep efficiency |
Anesthetics | Â |
   Isoflurane | Decreased SWS |
Anticholinergics | Â |
   Diphenhydramine | Decreased sleep latency, decreased REM |
   Benztropine | Decreased REM |
Anticonvulsants | Â |
   Phenytoin | Sleep fragmentation, increased SWS |
   Carbamazepine | Decreased REM, increased SWS |
   Valproic acid | Decreased nocturnal melatonin blood levels |
Anti-Parkinson's agents | Â |
   Levodopa | At high doses, hallucinations, nightmares |
   Amantadine | Confusion, hallucinations |
Cardiac drugs | Â |
   β-Blockers | Decreased total sleep time, REM, SWS (lipophilic > nonlipophilic) |
   Clonidine | Decreased REM |
   Digitalis | Insomnia, nightmares |
   Methyldopa | Decreased SWS, increased REM, nightmares |
Corticosteroids | Decreased REM, decreased SWS |
Psychiatric drugs | Â |
   Tricyclic antidepressants | Decreased REM |
   Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors | Decreased REM, decreased total sleep time |
Sedative/hypnotics | Â |
   Benzodiazepines | Decreased REM, decreased SWS |