The Brown University Geriatric Psychopharmacology Update articles from December 2006

The Brown University Geriatric Psychopharmacology Update archives from December 2006

National study shows efficacy of atypical antipsychotics but limited by side effects.(CATIE-AD Phase 1 Results)
December 1, 2006... precis * Clinical benefits of atypical antipsychotic treatment for aggression, psychosis or agitation in AD patients may be offset by adverse effects * Phase 1 results of the Clinical Antipsychotic Trials of Intervention...

Neuropsychiatric symptoms contribute significantly to cost of dementia care.(Cost-Effectiveness Study)
December 1, 2006... precis * The one-year prospective study recorded resource utilization of 500 caregivers of dementia patients in community-based settings, examining the effect of behavioral and psychological symptoms (BPSD) on total, direct, and indirect...

SSRIs and hyponatremia in the elderly.(Adverse Events)(selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors)
December 1, 2006... The selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) have become the drugs of choice for management of depression and are also used for other neuropsychiatric illnesses. Although they have a very good safety profile, some less known adverse...

Treating late-life depression: pharmacotherapy or psychotherapy?(What's New in Research)(Clinical report)
December 1, 2006... precis * Findings from a new meta-analysis suggest that both pharmacotherapy and psychotherapy are effective interventions for depression in the elderly; psychotherapy had a slightly larger effect size for patients with minor depression or...

Conference update: American Neurological Association.(What's New in Research)(Clinical report)
December 1, 2006... The following posters, covering new research into Alzheimer's disease, were presented at the 131st Annual Meeting of the American Neurological Association, Chicago, Illnois, October 8-11, 2006. Posters represent preliminary research. ...

NICE rejects appeal for greater access to some AD drugs.(News Notes)(National Institute for Clinical Excellence)(Brief article)
December 1, 2006... The UK National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) concluded that donepezil, rivastigimine, and galantamine can be used to treat moderate Alzheimer's disease (AD), but not all stages of the disease. According to Andrew Dillon,...

Cognitive difficulties following simvastatin.(Case Reports)(Brief article)
December 1, 2006... Patient: Male, 64 y/o Medications: simvastatin (Zocor) Comments: Within one week of starting simvastatin 40 mg/day, a 64-year-old man began to experience cognitive difficulties. Although the patient had experienced difficulties with...

Electrolyte monitoring in elderly treated with citalopram or mirtazapine.(Case Reports)(Brief article)
December 1, 2006... Patient: Female, 67 y/o Medications: citalopram (Celexa), mirtazapine (Remeron) Comments: A 67-year-old woman began treatment with citalopram after being diagnosed with depression. Two months after beginning treatment she was diagnosed...

Donepezil (Aricept) approved for severe AD.(From the FDA)(Alzheimer's disease)(Brief article)
December 1, 2006... Donepezil (Aricept) has received FDA approval (October 13, 2006) for the treatment of severe dementia in patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD). Aricept is manufactured by Esai, Inc., Teaneck, New Jersey. Donepezil has been previously approved...

New FDA patient information sheet for rasagiline.(From the FDA)(Brief article)
December 1, 2006... The FDA has issued a new patient information sheet for rasagiline (Azolect) for treating the signs and symptoms of Parkinson's disease in adults. The information sheet is available at: www.fda.gov/cder/drug/...