Treatment of post-electroconvulsive therapy delirium and agitation with donepezil

J ECT. 2007 Mar;23(1):28-9. doi: 10.1097/01.yct.0000263259.29291.c4.

Abstract

Delirium and agitation are commonly encountered after administration of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT). Management is generally fairly straightforward, although some patients may have a severe, prolonged, or refractory course. We recently cared for a 65-year-old man who consistently developed severe and very prolonged post-ECT delirium that did not respond to typical pharmacological agents; the duration of delirium was dramatically shortened by the addition of donepezil. Cholinesterase inhibitors may have a place in mitigating severe and prolonged post-ECT delirium.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Cholinesterase Inhibitors / therapeutic use*
  • Delirium / drug therapy*
  • Delirium / etiology*
  • Depressive Disorder, Major / therapy
  • Donepezil
  • Electroconvulsive Therapy / adverse effects*
  • Humans
  • Indans / therapeutic use*
  • Male
  • Piperidines / therapeutic use*
  • Psychomotor Agitation / drug therapy*
  • Psychomotor Agitation / etiology*

Substances

  • Cholinesterase Inhibitors
  • Indans
  • Piperidines
  • Donepezil