Question

You are working with Mr. J who is scheduled to have knee replacement surgery this morning. You can’t find his history and physical examination results on the chart. You read the preoperative orders, which consist of multiple drugs, including atropine sulfate. Shortly after you administer the atropine, Mr. J starts to hallucinate. He states that he must run away from the man chasing him. He is delirious, and his skin is hot, dry, and flushed. When you turn on the lights to assess him better, he complains that the light hurts his eyes.

1. What action should you take?
2. What medications would you anticipate administering?
3. What part of Mr. J’s history may have caused him to react to the atropine?

Answer 1

Atropine is an anticholinergic drug which is given to patients for a variety of reasons. If given too much of a dose, it can lead to an overdose and cause a variety of symptoms to the patient. Drug overdose is the reason for sudden behavioral changes in Mr. J. There is no history and physical examination details on the chart and administered medication without knowing the history of the patient. It is the reason why Mr. J had symptoms like restlessness, hyperthermia, dizziness, visual and memory disturbances, halucinations and delusion. Immediate action should be taken against depression of respiration by addressing artificial respiration and can also give fluids intravenously to reduce possible dehydration and drying of mucosa. Vitalsigns should be monitored regularly to detect any changes in their respiration and heart rate. Physostigmine is the antidote to atropine. It quickly stops the patient from delirium and coma associated with atropine overdose.