The Brown University Geriatric Psychopharmacology Update articles from July 2006

The Brown University Geriatric Psychopharmacology Update archives from July 2006

Determining when to change medication or continue same treatment.(Geriatric Depression)(Clinical report)
July 1, 2006... precis * Pooled data from 3 treatment studies of geriatric depression in 472 patients suggest that after only 4 or 5 weeks of treatment, it may be possible to identify which patients might benefit from switching antidepressants, and which...

Trial finds valproate performs no better than placebo for Alzheimer's agitation.(Research Outcomes)(Clinical report)
July 1, 2006... precis * Largest prospective study of valproate with agitation as the primary outcome in patients with dementia * Trial randomly assigned 153 nursing home residents with possible or probable Alzheimer's disease to 6 weeks of divalproex...

Acute respiratory failure and quetiapine.(Adverse Events)
July 1, 2006... Quetiapine (Seroquel[R]) is one member of a growing list of atypical antipsychotic agents used in the treatment of psychosis in patients with schizophrenia and management of acute manic in patients with bipolar I disorder. (1) In addition, it...

Potassium-sparing diuretics may lower risk of Alzheimer's disease.(What's New in Research)
July 1, 2006... precis * Antihypertensive (AH) medications may lower risk of Alzheimer's disease (AD) * Potassium-sparing diuretics were associated with greatest reduction in AD risk but the finding requires replication * Large, population-based...

Alzheimer's disease symptoms improve with collaborative care.(News Notes)(Brief article)(Clinical report)
July 1, 2006... Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients treated with collaborative care may have fewer psychological and behavioral symptoms of dementia compared with AD patients receiving usual care, according to new study results. The randomized controlled trial...

FDA alert for diazepam rectal gel (Diastat AcuDial).(Food and Drug Administration)(Brief article)
July 1, 2006... The FDA and Valeant Pharmaceuticals International notified healthcare professionals of small cracks at the base of the plastic tip of Diastat AcuDial applicators which results in medication leakage and the potential to reduce therapeutic...

QTc prolongation associated with galantamine.(Case Reports)(Brief article)
July 1, 2006... Patient: Male, 47 y/o Medications: aripiprazole (Abilify), quetiapine (Seroquel), lithium, benztropine (Cogentin), trazodone (Desyrel); other nonpsychotropic drugs at presentation included aspirin, enalapril (Vasotec), docusate (Docu),...

Antibiotic gatifloxacin (Tequin) induces psychosis and delirium in demented woman.(Case Reports)
July 1, 2006... Patient: Female, 89 y/o Medications: gatifloxacin (Tequin), nifedipine (Nifedical), acetylsalicylic acid, donepezil (Aricept), risperidone (Risperdal), latanoprost (Xalatan) Comments: An 89-year-old woman was admitted to the hospital...

FDA seeks advice on rivastigmine (Exelon).(From the FDA)(Food and Drug Administration)(Brief article)
July 1, 2006... An FDA advisory panel will discuss Novartis' supplemental new drug application (NDA) for Exelon (rivastigmine) for treating mild to moderate dementia in Parkinson's disease (PD) patients. While the drug is effective in treating dementia in PD,...

Rasagiline (Azilect) newly approved for Parkinson's disease.(From the FDA)(Brief article)
July 1, 2006... The FDA has approved Azilect (rasagiline), a new monoamine oxidase type-B (MAO-B) inhibitor, as an initial single drug therapy in early Parkinson's disease (PD), and augmentation to levodopa in patients with advanced PD. Manufactured by Teva...