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1: Am J Psychiatry. 1982 Sep;139(9):1170-4.Click here to read Links

Efficacy of antipsychotic medications in behaviorally disturbed dementia patients.

Barnes R, Veith R, Okimoto J, Raskind M, Gumbrecht G.

This study compared the therapeutic efficacy of thioridazine, loxapine, and a placebo in the treatment of behavioral disturbances in nursing home patients with dementia. Antipsychotic medications were effective for the specific behavioral problems of anxiety, excitement, emotional lability, and uncooperativeness. Subjects with the most severe symptoms at baseline assessment derived the greatest benefit from treatment. Sedation, extrapyramidal symptoms, and decreased blood pressure were common side effects among patients treated with the antipsychotic drugs. The authors conclude that antipsychotic medication has a definite but limited therapeutic role in the treatment of behavioral disturbances in nursing home patients with dementia.

PMID: 7114310 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Patient Drug Information

  • Thioridazine

    Thioridazine is used to treat the symptoms of schizophrenia (a mental illness that causes disturbed or unusual thinking, loss of interest in life, and strong or inappropriate emotions) in people who have already been tre...

  • Loxapine (Loxitane® )

    Loxapine is used to treat the symptoms of schizophrenia (a mental illness that causes disturbed or unusual thinking, loss of interest in life, and strong or inappropriate emotions). Loxapine is in a group of medications ...

  • Source: AHFS Consumer Medication Information