No Significant Benefit With Atypical Antipsychotics For Alzheimer's Patients

Jamie Sheller

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A recent study funded by the National Institute of Mental Health, suggests that the adverse effects of three atypical antipsychotics outweighed their benefits for patients with Alzheimer's disease. The three drugs studied were Zyprexa, Seroquel and Risperdal. The study is being reported in the October 12 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine. According to the director of the National Institute of Mental Health, antipsychotics have been extensively used to treat aggression, psychosis and agitation in Alzheimer's patients. However, there was insufficient solid evidence of their effectiveness, and the drugs actually carry black-box warnings regarding an increased risk of death in elderly patients with dementia-related psychosis.