Some Antipsychotics May Raise Risk of Death in Dementia Patients

[Guest guest]

via Alzheimer's Daily News

Some Antipsychotics May Raise Risk of Death in Dementia Patients

2/24/12

Source: Medical News Today) - Some antipsychotic drugs may raise risk of death

in elderly dementia patients, according to a new study from Harvard Medical

School.

Although the study does not prove that specific antipsychotics cause the

increased risk, and the researchers say they can't rule out all other possible

factors, they conclude their findings suggest that risk of death with

antipsychotics is " generally increased with higher doses and seems to be HIGHEST

for haloperidol [Haldol] and LEAST for quetiapine [seroquel] " .

The analysis shows that patients treated with haloperidol had double the risk of

death compared to those taking risperidone, while patients taking quetiapine had

a reduced risk.

The researchers also found that the link with haloperidol was strongest during

the first 40 days of treatment which did not change after a dose adjustment.

Go to full story:

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/242094.php