Treatment varies with the specific condition causing delirium.
The person should be in a pleasant, comfortable, nonthreatening, physically safe environment for diagnosis and initial treatment. Hospitalization may be required for a short time. The cause should be identified and treated. Stopping or changing medications that worsen confusion , or that are not essential to the care of the person, may improve cognitive functioning even before treatment of the underlying disorder. Medications that may worsen confusion include anticholinergics, analgesics , cimetidine, central nervous system depressants, lidocaine, and other medications.