Antipsychotics in elderly

Jeste DV, Rockwell E, Harris MJ, Lohr JB, Lacro J. Conventional vs. newer antipsychotics in elderly patients. Am J Geriatr Psychiatry 1999 7(l) 70-6. 

Deaths with antipsychotics in elderly patients with behavioral disturbances. Available at www.fda.gov/cder/drug/advisory/antipsychotics.htm. 

Tariot PN, Profenno LA, Ismail MS. Efficacy of atypical antipsychotics in elderly patients with dementia. J Clin Psychiatry. 2004 65(suppl 11) ... 

Consistent with my own clinical observation that neuroleptics worsen Alzheimer s disease and other dementing disorders, Bonelli et al. (2005) warned that individuals with Alzheimer s disease are even more vulnerable to neuroleptic-induced cell death. The researchers stated, A limit on the use of first- and second-generation antipsychotics in elderly patients is proposed. Finally, they saw a possible connection between the observed increased cerebral cell death and tardive dyskinesia, the most threatening side effect in antipsychotic therapy. ... 

The antipsychotic dru are used cautiously in patients exposed to extreme heat or phosphorous insecticides and in those with respiratory disorders, glaucoma, prostatic hypertrophy, epilepsy, decreased renal function, lactation, or peptic ulcer. The antipsychotic drags are used cautiously in elderly and debilitated patients because these patients are more sensitive to the antipsychotic dragp. lithium is used cautiously in patients who are in situations in which they may sweat profusely and those who are suicidal, have diarrhea, or who have an infection or fever. 

In temperature extremes, patients taking antipsychotics may experience their body temperature adjusting to ambient temperature (poikilother-mia). Hyperpyrexia can lead to heat stroke. Hypothermia is also a risk, particularly in elderly patients. These problems are more common with the use of low-potency FGAs. 

Klotz U, Avant GR, Hoyumpa Aet al. (1975) The effects of age and liver disease on the disposition and elimination of diazepam in adult man. J Clin Invest 55(2) 347-359 Kompoliti K and Goetz CG (1998) Neuropharmacology in the elderly. Neurol Clin 16(3) 599-610 Lanctot KL, Best TS, Mittmann N et al. (1998) Efficacy and safety of antipsychotics in behavioral disorders associated with dementia. J Clin Psychiatry 59(10) 550-561 Landi F, Onder G, Cesari M et al. (2005) Psychotropic medications and risk for falls among community-dwelling frail older people an observational study. J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci 60(5) 622-626... 

Risperidone (Risperdal). Risperidone is also approved by the FDA for the treatment of acute mania. It acts as an atypical antipsychotic at doses up to 4-6mg/day. Over this dose, and at lower doses in children and the elderly, risperidone acts more like a typical antipsychotic in that extrapyramidal side effects are common. 

Other sleep-inducing benzodiazepines should be avoided. They are more difficult to metabolize and can accumulate in elderly, demented patients. Sedating, low potency antipsychotics should also be avoided. Their strong anticholinergic (acetylcholine-blocking) effects can worsen dementia or cause delirium. 

Finkel S. Pharmacology of antipsychotics in the elderly a focus on atypicals. J Am Geriatr Soc 2004 52 S258-S265. 

Haloperidol decanoate (Haldol Decanoate) Antipsychotic Inj 50,100 mg/mL 25-100 mg IM q4 weel long acting. Reduce dose in elderly extrapyramidal symptoms, alpha-blocking effects, high doses may prolong QT interval. 

Risperidone and olanzapine have been widely used in patients with dementia exhibiting behavioural problems. Following the withdrawal of thioridazine from the market, old age psychiatrists and GPs were increasingly atypical antipsychotics, in particular risperidone as it was the only atypical which had been examined in randomised clinical trials (RCTs) with the elderly. In 2004, the advised that both risperidone... 

Wang PS, Schneeweiss S, Avorn J, Fischer MA, Mogun H, Solomon DH et al. Risk of death in elderly users of conventional vs. atypical antipsychotic medications. N Engl J Med 2005 353(22) 2335-41. 

Treatment with atypical antipsychotics recently has been associated with an almost twofold increased mortality rate when used in elderly patients with dementia. Although these medications are not approved for treatment of dementia-related psychosis, such use is common in clinical practice (Herrmann and Lanctot 2005). At present, this appears to be a risk for the entire class. The risk associated with atypical antipsychotics is not statistically different from the risk associated with treatment with conventional antipsychotics (Gill et al. 2005). 

Goldberg R, Goldberg J. Antipsychotics for dementia-related behavioral disturbances in elderly institutionalized patients, din Geriatt 1996 4 58-68. 

Whereas iithium has been the standard approach, increased complications in elderly patients, especially when there is compromise of the CNS, endocrine, or renal systems, makes this agent a less attractive choice. Lower doses (e.g., 150 to 300 mg) should be initiated, with many elderly patients achieving adequate response on total daily doses of lithium in the 450- to 600-mg range. If a more rapid response is necessary, low-dose high-potency antipsychotics can also be used in the early phases. Alternatively, a BZD, such as clonazepam or lorazepam, may be indicated (297). 

Buspirone may be an effective anxiolytic in the elderly patient and less likely than BZDs to produce excessive sedation ( 352, 353, 354 and 355). Dizziness, however, may be a problem. Zolpidem or zaleplon, particularly in lower doses (i.e., 2.5 to 5.0 mg at bedtime) may be viable alternatives ( 356). The elimination half-life of these two agents is approximately 3 hours in the elderly. Although it has sleep-enhancing properties similar to BZD hypnotics, it is less likely to alter sleep architecture. Whereas antidepressants and b -blockers may be useful alternatives in younger patients, no data document their effectiveness for anxiety in elderly patients ( 307). Although antipsychotics may be helpful in reducing severe agitation, their side effect profile makes them unsuitable for use in subjective anxiety states ( 300, 307). 

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