Antipsychotic Drugs up Death Risk in Dementia

(Ivanhoe Newswire) -- Antipsychotic drugs prescribed to help control agitation, physical aggression, and other behaviors common in people with dementia may be leading to an earlier death for those who take them.

Research involving medication records and deaths among more than 27,000 people over age 65 who were diagnosed with dementia shows those who took either older or newer forms of antipsychotic drugs were more likely to die than those who didn't take these drugs. What's more, the increased risk occurred quickly -- just a month after beginning such medications.

Newer antipsychotics have previously been linked to problems in the elderly, and these drugs now include warnings about possible side effects. These researchers note their study shows older medications carry even greater risks and believe similar warnings should be placed on those drugs as well, so doctors don't mistakenly switch people from the newer to the older drugs, thinking the older drugs are safer.

While the authors stop short of recommending antipsychotics never be used in older people with dementia, they do believe these findings call for doctors to proceed with caution.

"These findings highlight the need to carefully balance potential risks and benefits when considering antipsychotic treatment for older adults with dementia and emphasize the need to limit use of these drugs to situations in which nonpharmacologic measures have provided an inadequate response," they write.

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SOURCE: Annals of Internal Medicine, published online June 4, 2007