Suggest Remedy For Recurrent Episodes Of Confusion

Posted on Fri, 24 Jul 2015

Fri, 24 Jul 2015 Answered on

Mon, 10 Aug 2015 Last reviewed on

Question : Twice in the last two months I went to bed and woke up, had my breakfast, and kept calling the beauty parlour to cancel, but got no answer. I finally called my son who told me it was 11:30 p.m. I was sure it was morning, but it was only 3 hours since I went to bed. Is this normal?

Answered by Dr. Olsi Taka (48 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Probable side effects of medication

Detailed Answer:
I read your question carefully and I am sorry about the symptoms you have experienced.

I do not think those episodes are normal. I believe they are more probably a medication related phenomenon. You take several drugs which act on the central nervous system like zoloft, xanax and lyrica, all carry potential for such manifestations. However I believe the main suspect to be Xanax. It is a benzodiazepine, a class of drugs which especially in the elderly carries the potential to cause confusion. It also with prolonged use develops tolerance, same dose isn't effective anymore, so you are getting up earlier.

So I suggest you discuss its further use with your physician, also in order to be evaluated for other possible causes like early stages of dementia (less likely if you notice no impairment of cognitive functions like memory, speech, judgement etc in your daily life).

I hope to have been of help.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar