Agitation Health Article

Definition

Agitation is an unpleasant state of extreme arousal, increased tension, and irritability.

Alternative Names

Restlessness

Considerations

Extreme agitation can lead to confusion, hyperactivity, and hostility. Agitation can come on suddenly or over time. It can last for just a few minutes, or for weeks and even months. Pain, stress, and fever can all increase agitation.

Agitation by itself may not be a sign of a health problem. However, if other symptoms occur, it can be a sign of disease.

When agitation lasts for hours and there is changed awareness (altered consciousness), doctors often call this "delirium." Usually this has a medical cause such as alcohol withdrawal or an infection (in elderly adults). Older adults often have delirium while hospitalized.

Common Causes

Causes of agitation include:

• Alcohol withdrawal
• Nicotine withdrawal
• Cocaine withdrawal
• Opiate withdrawal
• Caffeine
• Cocaine, hallucinogenic drugs, ephedrine
• Theophylline or other medicines
• Vitamin B6 deficiency
• Hyperthyroidism
• Medical tests that involve injecting a "contrast medium" into the patient

Agitation can be associated with anxiety and depression, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia.

Home Care

A calm environment, plenty of sleep, adequate lighting, and stress-reducing measures can help reduce agitation. Don't restrain an overly-agitated person if possible, since this usually worsens the problem.

Communicating your feelings is important.

Call your health care provider if

Contact your health care provider if you have prolonged or severe agitation, especially if you also have other unexplained symptoms.

What to expect at your health care provider's office

Your health care provider will take a medical history and do a physical examination.

To help better understand your agitation, your doctor may ask the following questions:

• Type
  • Are you more talkative than usual or do you feel pressure to keep talking?
  • Do you find yourself doing purposeless activities (e.g., pacing, hand wringing)?
  • Are you extremely restless?
  • Are you trembling or twitching?
• Time pattern
  • Was the agitation a short episode?
  • Is the agitation persistent?
    • How long did it last -- for how many day(s)?
• Aggravating factors
  • Does the agitation seem to be triggered by reminders of a traumatic event?
  • Did you notice anything else that may have triggered agitation?
  • Do you take any medications, especially steroids or thyroid medicine?
  • How much alcohol do you drink?
  • How much caffeine do you drink?
  • Do you use any drugs, such as cocaine, narcotics, or "speed" (amphetamines)?
• Other
  • What other symptoms do you have?
  • Is there confusion, memory loss, hyperactivity, or hostility (these symptoms can play an important role in diagnosis).

Diagnostic tests may include:

• Vital signs (temperature, pulse, breathing rate, blood pressure)
• Blood studies (such as CBC, blood differential, thyroid studies, drug screening)
• Head CT scan or cranial MRI (head)
• Lumbar puncture
• X-rays of the skull