Which medication is listed as a typical antipsychotic used for delirium?

Which medication is listed as a typical antipsychotic used for delirium?

• A. Chlorpromazine
• B. Dexmedetomidine
• C. Olanzapine
• D. Ramelteon

Answer: (A)

Delirium management often uses antipsychotics to help control severe agitation and perceptual disturbances when nonpharmacologic strategies aren’t enough. Typical antipsychotics achieve this mainly by blocking D2 dopamine receptors, which reduces the heightened dopaminergic activity that can drive agitation in delirium. Chlorpromazine is a classic example of a typical antipsychotic, fitting this role. Dexmedetomidine is not an antipsychotic; it’s a sedative that works through alpha-2 adrenergic receptors to calm patients, often used in ICU settings. Ramelteon is a melatonin receptor agonist that helps regulate sleep-wake cycles, not delirium-related agitation. Olanzapine is an antipsychotic too, but it’s classified as an atypical (not a typical) antipsychotic, with a broader receptor profile and different side-effect considerations. So, chlorpromazine is the typical antipsychotic listed for delirium.

Delirium management often uses antipsychotics to help control severe agitation and perceptual disturbances when nonpharmacologic strategies aren’t enough. Typical antipsychotics achieve this mainly by blocking D2 dopamine receptors, which reduces the heightened dopaminergic activity that can drive agitation in delirium. Chlorpromazine is a classic example of a typical antipsychotic, fitting this role.

Dexmedetomidine is not an antipsychotic; it’s a sedative that works through alpha-2 adrenergic receptors to calm patients, often used in ICU settings. Ramelteon is a melatonin receptor agonist that helps regulate sleep-wake cycles, not delirium-related agitation. Olanzapine is an antipsychotic too, but it’s classified as an atypical (not a typical) antipsychotic, with a broader receptor profile and different side-effect considerations.

So, chlorpromazine is the typical antipsychotic listed for delirium.