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Medical Forum / Diseases and Disorders / Alzheimer's / April 2005Warning about anti-psychotic meds and dementia
http://www.healthscout.com/news/1/525088/main.html This article, apparently posted on Monday, warns that the use of anti-psychotic meds for elderly dementia patients may have adverse health affects, mainly heart problems and infections. The drugs mentioned are olanzapine, aripiprazole, risperidone and quetiapine. Of course, there are worse things than somewhat premature death for an elderly Alzheimer's patient, especially if the drug brings some peace of mind. But caregivers should understand the risks.  SignatureJo Ann Malina, make spamthis best to find my address He neither drank, smoked, nor rode a bicycle. Living frugally, saving his money, he died early, surrounded by greedy relatives. It was a great lesson to me. -- John Barrymore > http://www.healthscout.com/news/1/525088/main.html > [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] > elderly Alzheimer's patient, especially if the drug brings some peace > of mind. But caregivers should understand the risks. Thats the trouble with studies like this, they focus on one negative without considering the positives. For example, if people are dying lets say 1 year earlier, and are usually on the drugs for 4 years, then 3 years of relatively good quality of life may well be preferable (for patient *and* carers *and* other patients in the same facility) to 4 years of pschotic, confused and anxiety ridden life. But the study (or at least the headlines ) will just say 'drug cuts life span short by 25%'. SignatureTumbleweed email replies not necessary but to contact use; tumbleweednews at hotmail dot com As the caregiver for my wife, I sometimes feel that in the end, after she is pronounced, my last scene in this tableau will be with Mike Wallace sitting in the shadows, all the lights on my sweating carcass, grasping for a coherent answer to his insinuating questions, "You let her doctor (give her, not give her) _________?! You fool! Didn't you heed the studies?" It's a jumble out there. go'l. > Thats the trouble with studies like this, they focus on one negative > without considering the positives. For example, if people are dying lets [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > pschotic, confused and anxiety ridden life. But the study (or at least > the headlines ) will just say 'drug cuts life span short by 25%'. >Thats the trouble with studies like this, they focus on one negative without >considering the positives. For example, if people are dying lets say 1 year [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] >confused and anxiety ridden life. But the study (or at least the >headlines ) will just say 'drug cuts life span short by 25%'. To be fair to the researchers, their report is probably primarily directed to other researchers and, definitely not, to laypersons such as us. - Mind control is being able to make all the voices in your head take turns. Mod as a hooter! >> http://www.healthscout.com/news/1/525088/main.html >> [quoted text clipped - 16 lines] > pschotic, confused and anxiety ridden life. But the study (or at least > the headlines ) will just say 'drug cuts life span short by 25%'. Yes, exactly. My mother in law was on risperdol for almost three years, and her heart is just fine, but she did start having some high blood sugar problems. This was a tendency before she ever started the risperdol, but I am sure it exacerbated it. Bottom line is that the risperdol was a lifesaver for her, since she was having awful delusions and suffering from a great deal of anxiety from them before starting it, and while on it, she was more comfortable and more "normal" in every way. I didn't regret her using the drug. But everyone is different and you need to discuss it with your doctor. SignatureBest Regards, Evelyn (to reply personally, remove 'sox') Well, as my family doctor is fond of saying...everything has price tag. Name me a drug or medical procedure that doesn't bring with it its own set of problems or risks. I wish we were all blessed with perfect health into extreme old age so we didn't have to worry about doing the cost/benefit analysis to figure out if the down side is balanced out by the up side. I'm always surprised by people who are outraged at medical science that this is true - who want there to be some perfect solution with no strings. Biology is complicated and we're all terminal creatures. Mary G. My MIL kept trying to break the windows to get to her car when they took her off Risperdol for a while. And getting aggressive with the other residents. She had put on weight and they were worried about diabetes, but there is no facility that can be right at her side 24/7 to keep her from hurting herself. I figure the studies may give us risks or probabilities but quality of life has to figure into the equation. Karen > http://www.healthscout.com/news/1/525088/main.html > [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] > elderly Alzheimer's patient, especially if the drug brings some peace > of mind. But caregivers should understand the risks. |
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