Drugs used to treat Alzheimer's
in nursing homes are worsening illness
February 18, 2005 (Newswise) —
Quetiapine, a drug commonly used in nursing homes to treat agitation
and related symptoms in people with Alzheimers' disease actually
worsens patients' illness, speeding up their rate of decline
significantly, says a paper published on bmj.com today.
Antipsychotic drugs are used in up
to 45% of nursing homes to treat agitation, a common and distressing
symptom of dementia (a catch-all term for diseases such as
Alzhimer's.)
Researchers found that, when given
a placebo as treatment for these symptoms, patients showed little
change. But those patients given the commonly used antipsychotic
drug quetiapine showed a marked worsening in the condition with
marked deterioration of memory and other higher brain functions
(cognitive decline).
This is particularly significant
as quetiapine had been regarded as one of the safer of the
antipsychotic drugs available, say the authors.
The study looked at 93 patients
with dementia across the north east of England over six months.
Those in the study taking quetiapine experienced a doubling in
cognitive decline compared with the control group who had been given
placebo. Those taking another antipsychotic in the trial,
rivatigmine, showed little or no worsening of their illness - but no
improvement in symptoms above the placebo group.
There have been concerns about the
safety of the two most commonly used antipsychotic drugs in people
with dementia, risperidone and olanzapine, because of increased risk
of stroke, say the authors. The current study highlights
considerable concern regarding the safety of quetiapine, and suggest
that quetipaine is not a viable alternative to these medications.
This study has vital implications
for the treatment of patients with dementia, argue the authors.
Quetiapine should not be used instead of other drugs for alleviating
their symptoms, and these findings highlight concerns over long term
use of antipsychotics in these patients.
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