Warning on drugs given to dementia patients

[Posted: Sun 11/01/2009 by Niall Hunter, Editor]

People with dementia who are prescribed antipsychotic drugs for sedation have double the risk of early death, according to a new study.

Antipsychotic drugs, usually given to patients with schizophrenia, are also recommended for dementia patients who are severely agitated or violent for short periods of time.

The researchers gave 128 patients either one of a number of available antipsychotic drugs or a placebo.

There was a significant increase in risk of death for patients who took antipsychotics during the study.

The researchers found that, for the whole study period, the risk of death was 42% lower among people taking a placebo compared with those taking antipsychotics.

After one year of follow-up, 70% of the patients taking antipsychotics were still living, compared with 77% of those on placebo.

But after two years, 46% of those taking antipsychotics were alive, compared with 71% of those taking placebo.

After three years, only 30% of those on antipsychotics were alive, compared with 59% of those taking  placebo, the researchers found.

Three years after the start of the study, fewer than one third of people on antipsychotics were alive compared to nearly two-thirds of those taking the placebo.

The researchers stressed most periods of aggression in people with dementia will eventually pass and said better education of health staff in using these drugs was needed.

The researchers, from King's College, London, said the drugs were appropriate in some patients with severe aggression, but only for short periods.

The study has raised concerns  about unnecessary and prolonged prescribing of antipsychotics, such as  Risperdal, Largactil and other similar drugs, to dementia patients.

The study is published in The Lancet Neurology.

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