The Brown University Geriatric Psychopharmacology Update articles from April 2006

The Brown University Geriatric Psychopharmacology Update archives from April 2006

New study finds no significant changes in mood, cognitive function in elderly women.(Estrogen Therapy)(Clinical report)
April 1, 2006... The results of a new study carried out among older, post-menopausal women demonstrate no significant changes in mood, cognitive function or quality of life following treatment with relatively high doses of unopposed estradiol for 20 weeks. In...

NIH seeks strategies to preserve brain health: new report suggests promising areas for intervention.(NIH Research Update)(Report)
April 1, 2006... With the rapid aging of the population, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) is intensifying the search for strategies to preserve brain health as people grow older. The effort moved an important step forward with a report by an expert panel...

Rhabdomyolysis and ziprasidone.(Drug-Drug Interactions)
April 1, 2006... Rhabdomyolysis is a potentially life-threatening syndrome that was first described during World War I. It results from lysis of muscle fibers secondary to disruption of the calcium homeostasis in the muscle cells. The cellular breakdown allows...

Anticholinergic drugs may be linked to MCI in the elderly.(What's New in Research)(mild cognitive impairment)(Clinical report)
April 1, 2006... Results of a new study indicate that anticholinergic drug use in the elderly is a strong predictor of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) Doctors not only often fail to associate anticholinergic drugs with cognitive impairment in the elderly, they...

Daily GHRH may improve cognition in healthy, older adults.(What's New in Research)(growth hormone releasing hormone)(Clinical report)
April 1, 2006... A new study found significant improvement in cognitive functions in healthy older adults following 6 months of treatment with growth hormone releasing hormone (GHRH). According to the investigators, this is the first clear evidence that GHRH...

Valproic acid and Pisa syndrome.(Case Report)
April 1, 2006... Patient: Male, 65 y/o Medications: Valproic acid (Depakote), carbamazepine (Epital, Tegretol), risperidone (Risperdal) Comments: A 65-year-old male nursing-home resident, confined to a wheelchair due to severe arthritis, was being...

Venous thromboembolism and antipsychotics in the elderly.(News Notes)(Brief article)(Clinical report)
April 1, 2006... Elderly patients treated with atypical antipsychotics may be at increased risk of thromboembolism (VTE), according to new study results. The retrospective study was carried out among elderly nursing home residents aged 65 years or older, and...

Nimodipine (Nimotop) alert.(From the FDA)(Brief article)
April 1, 2006... The FDA has requested Bayer to add a boxed warning to nimodipine (Nimotop) labeling regarding medication administration errors. The drug is approved for oral administration to improve neurological outcome following subarachinoid hemorrhage....

Revised black box warnings for clozapine (Clozaril).(From the FDA)(Brief article)
April 1, 2006... Novartis and the FDA have notified healthcare professionals of changes to Clozaril's black box warning which now has a modified white blood cell monitoring schedule. According to the FDA, there are also additional labeling changes concerning...

Divalproex sodium, valproic acid, Valproate (common name for both forms) (generic): Depakote, Depakote ER (brand).(YOUR MEDICATION INFORMATION)(Drug overview)
April 1, 2006... CLASSIFICATION: Antiepileptic, mood stabilizer. COMMON USAGE: DEPAKOTE is indicated for treating mania associated with bipolar disorder. DEPAKOTE ER (extended release) is indicated for acute manic or mixed episodes associated with bipolar...