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Certain Antipsychotics Up Risk of Death for Patients With Dementia: Study

Posted 23 Feb 2012 by Drugs.com

THURSDAY, Feb. 23 Compared to other antipsychotic drugs, haloperidol (Haldol) raises the risk of death in elderly patients with dementia, a new study finds. One outside expert believes the finding should aid in dementia care. "This data provides much-needed guidance and reassurance for the ever-increasing number of health care practitioners treating older demented patients," said Dr. Gisele Wolf-Klein, director of geriatric education at the North Shore-LIJ Health System in New Hyde Park, N.Y. The study was published online Feb. 23 in the British Medical Journal. In 2005, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration warned that certain antipsychotic drugs are associated with an increased risk of death in elderly patients with dementia. This warning was expanded to include conventional antipsychotics in 2008, according to a journal news release. The authors of the new study said that, despite ... Read more

Antipsychotics Best for Controlling Mania: Study

Posted 16 Aug 2011 by Drugs.com

TUESDAY, Aug. 16 – The manic episodes experienced by those with bipolar disorder are better controlled by antipsychotic drugs than mood stabilizers, a new, large study suggests. Researchers from Italy and the United Kingdom also found that three antipsychotics – first-generation haloperidol (Haldol) along with later formulations of risperidone (Risperdal) and olanzapine (Zyprexa) – outperformed 11 other drugs. The scientists analyzed results from 68 randomized, controlled trials with more than 16,000 participants over a 30-year period. Mania typically alternates with depression in those with bipolar disorder, which tends to run in families and begin between the ages of 15 and 25, according to the U.S. National Institutes of Health. Acute manic episodes – characterized by hyperactivity, racing thoughts and reckless behavior – are not experienced by all bipolar patients, but severe ... Read more

Schizophrenia Drugs May Spur Subtle Brain Tissue Loss

Posted 10 Feb 2011 by Drugs.com

MONDAY, Feb. 7 – The use of antipsychotic drugs to treat schizophrenia is associated with the loss of a small but measurable amount of brain tissue, a new study finds. It included 211 schizophrenia patients who each underwent an average of three MRI brain scans over 7.2 years, for a total of 674 scans in the study group. The researchers then examined how four factors affected changes in brain volume over time: illness duration, illness severity, substance abuse and treatment with antipsychotic drugs. Longer duration of illness and antipsychotic treatment were both associated with loss of brain tissue. Higher doses of antipsychotics were associated with overall brain tissue loss, reduced gray matter and progressive declines in white matter. Illness severity and substance abuse had little or no association with brain tissue changes, according to the study, published in the February issue ... Read more

Most Newer Antipsychotics No Better Than Older Ones, Just Different

Posted 5 Dec 2008 by Drugs.com

FRIDAY, Dec. 5 – Antipsychotic drugs have traditionally been classified as "first" or "second" generation, but these classifications aren't valid and the drugs should be prescribed on a patient-by-patient basis, new research suggests. Older drugs (first-generation) are cheaper than the newer "atypical" antipsychotic (second-generation) medications and have different side effects. But, the added cost of second-generation antipsychotics – with an estimated $7.5 billion in U.S. sales in 2003 – has led to debate about their benefits compared with first-generation drugs. "In recent years there has been a number of new antipsychotic, and there had been controversy over which is the best," said study author Dr. John Davis, a research professor of psychiatry at the University of Illinois at Chicago. "What we find is that different ones are better or worse in different ways," Davis said. ... Read more

Related support groups: Abilify, Geodon, Zyprexa, Risperdal, Haldol, Stelazine, Trilafon, Clopine, Ormazine, Permitil, Serentil

FDA Medwatch Alert: Antipsychotics, Conventional and Atypical

Posted 16 Jun 2008 by Drugs.com

[Posted 06/16/2008] FDA notified healthcare professionals that both conventional and atypical antipsychotics are associated with an increased risk of mortality in elderly patients treated for dementia-related psychosis. In April 2005, FDA notified healthcare professionals that patients with dementia-related psychosis treated with atypical antipsychotic drugs are at an increased risk of death. Since issuing that notification, FDA has reviewed additional information that indicates the risk is also associated with conventional antipsychotics. Antipsychotics are not indicated for the treatment of dementia-related psychosis. The prescribing information for all antipsychotic drugs will now include the same information about this risk in a BOXED WARNING and the WARNINGS section.[June 16, 2008 - Information for Healthcare Professionals - FDA] Read more

Related support groups: Seroquel, Abilify, Geodon, Zyprexa, Risperdal, Dementia, Haldol, Compazine, Invega, Symbyax, Navane, Stelazine, Mellaril, Orap, Trilafon

FDA Medwatch Alert: Haloperidol (Haldol, Haldol decanoate, and Haldol lactate)

Posted 17 Sep 2007 by Drugs.com

[Posted 09/17/2007] Johnson and Johnson and FDA informed healthcare professionals that the WARNINGS section of the prescribing information for haloperidol has been revised to include a new Cardiovascular subsection regarding cases of sudden death, QT prolongation and Torsades de Pointes(TdP) in patients treated with haloperidol, especially when given intravenously, or at doses higher than recommended. Although injectable haloperidol is only approved by the FDA for intramuscular injection, there is considerable evidence that the intravenous administration of haloperidol is a relatively common off-label clinical practice.There are at least 28 case reports of QT prolongation and TdP, some with fatal outcome in the context of off-label intravenous haloperidol. Healthcare professionals should consider this new risk information when making individual treatment decisions for their ... Read more