FDA ALERT: Antipsychotic Drug Use

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Specializes in ER CCU MICU SICU LTC/SNF.

excerpt...

fda alert [6/16/2008]: fda is notifying healthcare professionals that both conventional and atypical antipsychotics are associated with an increased risk of mortality in elderly patients treated for dementia-related psychosis.

considerations for healthcare professionals

*elderly patients with dementia-related psychosis treated with conventional or atypical antipsychotic drugs are at an increased risk of death.

*antipsychotic drugs are not approved for the treatment of dementia-related psychosis. furthermore, there is no approved drug for the treatment of dementia-related psychosis. healthcare professionals should consider other management options.

*physicians who prescribe antipsychotics to elderly patients with dementia-related psychosis should discuss this risk of increased mortality with their patients, patients' families, and caregivers.

examples of conventional and atypical anti-psychotics commonly used: haldol, thorazine, trilafon, abilify, seroquel, risperdal, zyprexa

the entire document ... http://www.fda.gov/cder/drug/infosheets/hcp/antipsychotics_conventional.htm

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Specializes in Geriatric/Psych.

I work in a facility that uses all these drugs. If we didn't, we would have to close down. All interventions are used and failure documented prior to giving these meds. Families are notified and sign forms of the risks. This isn't new news. It's just the way for the FDA to not eventually get sued for not having disclaimers on things.

When will people learn: ALL DRUGS HAVE THE POTENTIAL FOR ADVERSE SIDE EFFECTS!

People are sue happy cause they are greedy. Some, yes, are clearly justified cases, but only when it produces an actual change in the way things are really done.

Why don't we just label stuff with : TAKE AT YOUR OWN RISK??

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Specializes in Vascular Access Nurse.

I agree with Furwillfly. Any medication can have a side effect. And guess what?? Elderly people will die. I don't know if they die sooner with an antipsychotic than without, but perhaps they're a bit calmer if they do. Can you imagine being inside the mind/body of an out-of-control demented elderly person with psychosis? How horrible that must feel...physically and mentally. I've had patients awake for many hours in that state...they just could NOT sleep....we give them something (at the lowest dosage possible to start) and let them sleep then re-evaluate when they wake up. Some people (elderly or not) NEED antipsychotic medication. Please give me them if I need them. Of course we check for physical reasons in new onset psychosis, but if all else fails and behavior/environmental/situational management doesn't help, then antipsychotic medication is absolutely warranted. Of course there's no FDA approved drug....they don't want to be the ones on the hot seat when an elderly pt dies! FDA gone wild? Pressure from attorneys? Pretty soon we'll have to jump through hoops to get meds. Heck, I was just given a prescription for Accutane (gray hair and cystic acne at the same time..just not fair) and there's an entire packet of things to read and sign, etc, etc etc. (And I don't even have a uterus....I can't imagine what the paperwork/lab work is for those gals!) How horrid it would be if we had to do that for every med......

OK OK...you can tell I'm "sort-of" on summer break....I'm ranting.....:eek:

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Specializes in Gerontology, Med surg, Home Health.

You're right--every drug has the potential for disaster. We just need to make sure that there is a well written risk vs. benefit statement in the charts of the residents who are on these drugs or any drug on the BEER'S list.

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Specializes in Nursing Home ,Dementia Care,Neurology..

This is not new news! We have had this alert for a number of years but what else can we use? Thankfully the older antipsychotics with their horrendous side effects are gone but the newer ones also have side effects,some of them can cause stroke etc in the elderly.I wish there was a better solution.

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Specializes in subacute/ltc.

Has anyone else read Comfortably Numb? It explores the use/overuse e of antipsycotics, meds for depression, how its all diagnosed and the role of the drug companies in promoting use of these meds.....

very very interesting.....

Tres

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Specializes in Geriatric/Psych.

I don't know if they die sooner taking antipsych. meds, but because they cause so much damage of organs, I would have to say yes. I do think they are calmer and able to actually enjoy the remainder of their lives. And for some of them, their families are in awe cause they see thier loved one transform from this OCD/delusional/anxious state into a calmer more at peace human being. Of course that happens only when we finally discover the right med for that person.....God bless who ever invented Ativan Cream....LOL!

Then you have the families that turn you into state for oversedating their wive (who has schizophrenia and is violent) and claims that is giving her pneumonia. Come to find out this man has been delivering Triscuits to her on his visits, something she can't have.

Anyhow, point is there is a fine line.

Who wrote Comfortably Numb? Have to look that up. Sounds like a great read!

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