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Short-Term Antipsychotics for Dementia Associated with Adverse Events

The short-term use of antipsychotic therapy in older people with dementia is often followed by adverse events leading to hospitalization or death, reports a retrospective cohort study in Archives of Internal Medicine.

The study examined roughly 21,000 older adults (over 65 years) with dementia in the community and 21,000 in nursing homes. During 30 days' follow-up, those receiving atypical antipsychotic drugs (olanzapine, quetiapine, or risperidone) were two to three times more likely to have an adverse event leading to hospital admission or death, compared with those who were not taking antipsychotics. Adults receiving conventional antipsychotics, such as haloperidol or loxapine, had even higher odds of an adverse event.

The authors note that the agents are commonly used short term to treat agitation, especially when patients are admitted to nursing homes. They say their study probably underestimates the problem's prevalence, concluding that "antipsychotic drugs should be prescribed with caution even for short-term therapy."

LINK(S):

Archives of Internal Medicine article (Free abstract; full text requires subscription)

Physician's First Watch coverage of antipsychotic use in nursing homes (Free)

Published in Physician's First Watch May 27, 2008