Antipsychotic drugs are usually not the best choice

Studies have compared these drugs to sugar pills or placebos. These studies showed thatantipsychotics usually don’t reduce disruptivebehaviour in older dementia patients.

Consider antipsychotic drugs if:

• Other steps have failed.
• Patients are severely distressed.
• Patients could hurt themselves or others.

Start the drug at the lowest possible dose.

Caregivers and healthcare providers should watch the patient carefully to make sure that symptoms improve and that there are no serious side effects. The drugs should be stopped if they are not helping or are no longer needed.

Conditions: Dementia, Alzheimer’s Disease

Treatments: Antipsychotics, Olanzapine, Zyprexa, Quetiapie, Seroquel, Risperidone, Risperdal