you ask a very interesting question -- one i think is worthy of discussion. it's important for all healthcare professionals (and the general public) to remember that medications often work differently in the elderly. many older adults experience decreased kidney function which puts them at higher risk for adverse events from all types of medications including antibiotics. while it is unlikely that the antibiotics your father took were the cause of his next-day episode it is not out of the question. a very brief scan of the literature shows that certain antibiotics may be more likely than others to induce neurotoxicity in elderly patients. neurotoxicity means 'toxic to the nervous system. ' neurotoxicity can manifest as lethargy agitation seizures and other nervous system symptoms. you would be wise to find out specifically what antibiotic your father took. because there are so many different types of antibiotics available he might want to steer clear of the one that may have touched off his episode of agitation. again i'm not saying the antibiotic was the culprit. but since the pill might have been involved it could be prudent to avoid using it in the future. i would also suggest notifying the dentist your father's primary care provider and his pharmacist so the name of the drug can be listed as a potential "adverse reaction" in his chart. wishing you (and your father) well!
can anti-biotics cause psychotic episodes in patients with dementia? . my father is 88 years and had some dental work started on monday july 27 2015. novocain was used to cover pain. previous to dental work given by mouth some anti-biotics. on wednesday morning like never before he had a "psychotic episode"; high heart rate combative swearing hitting spitting etc. so called 911--police fire ambulance. took to emergency room by ambulance with restraints. now in hospital. possible or was it combination of novocain and anti biotics?