Confusion caused by medication?
Dear Sir or Madam,
My mother (76 years old) suffered from an acute heart attack and had to undergo emergency surgery, which went very well. Afterwards, she was fully alert and conscious. However, healing was hindered by various infections and abscesses in her body, causing her to become physically very weak.
She is now receiving strong antibiotics as well as calming and pain-relieving medications. At times, she has been given morphine. Various examinations with the use of sedatives have recently been carried out. Unfortunately, she is becoming increasingly confused, no longer recognizes us, and does not speak. She tries to get up because she believes she is healthy, and had to be restrained.
Due to my job, I am rarely able to speak with the attending physician and therefore am very worried and at a loss.
I have the following general questions:
Can anti-inflammatory, calming, or pain-relieving medications actually cause such severe disorientation, or could the cause be a brain injury?
Is a complete mental recovery of my mother and clear orientation still possible?
What should we possibly expect?
I would be very grateful for any, even general, response to this.
Yours sincerely,
