Warning about Benadryl use in the elderly

[Guest guest]

My 83 mother was given Benadryl in advance of receiving

Rituxan for treatment of her leukemia. The use of this

antihistamine is contra-indicated for use in the elderly, but

it was administered to her nevertheless. That evening she

had an hours long psychotic episode that was horrifying for

her and her loved ones. She was reduced to screaming

profanities (she never swears), accusing my father of trying

to assault her in the hospital room, reporting imaginary

visitors that were threatening her life, etc., and laying in

her bed terrified of everyone who came near her including

doctors and nurses.

With a 2 minute Google search I found multiple sources of

medical journals that strongly advised against the use of

this drug on the elderly - why the oncologist didn't know

about this when most leukemia patients are diagnosed after

the age of 60 is beyond me.