The Brown University Geriatric Psychopharmacology Update articles from June 2005

The Brown University Geriatric Psychopharmacology Update archives from June 2005

Is shift from lithium to valproate justified? Study compares neurotoxicity of mood disorder treatments.(Late-Life Mood Disorders)
June 1, 2005... In treating late-life mood disorders, clinicians are abandoning the old workhorse lithium. A new study in Ontario has found that from 1993 to 2001, the number of new prescriptions written for older adults for valproate eclipsed that for...

Osteoporosis drug, raloxifene, may lower risk for cognitive impairment.(Results from the MORE Trial)
June 1, 2005... An analysis of a randomized placebo-controlled trial of over 5,000 women has found a one-third lower risk of mild cognitive impairment in postmenopausal women who take 120 mg of raloxifene, a selective estrogen receptor modulator (SERM), on a...

Movement disorder--asterixis--may be associated with gabapentin.(Drug-Drug Interactions)
June 1, 2005... Asterixis, also known as negative myoclonus, is a type of movement disorder characterized by involuntary movements and lapses in postural muscular activity. The loss of postural control can result in changes in the body's center of mass, and...

Propranolol may reduce disruptive behavior in Alzheimer's patients.(What's New In Research: Focus on Alzheimer's Disease)
June 1, 2005... Results from a six-week, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study suggest that short-term treatment with propranolol (Inderal) augmentation may be effective in reducing disruptive behavior in nursing-home residents with probable or...

Atorvastatin shows positive effects for treatment of mild to moderate AD.(What's New In Research: Focus on Alzheimer's Disease)
June 1, 2005... In patients with mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease (AD), daily administration of 80 mg of atorvastatin calcium (Lipitor) was shown to significantly reduce circulation cholesterol levels, and to possibly have a positive effect on...

Possible neuro-protective effect of donepezil in AD.(What's New In Research: Focus on Alzheimer's Disease)
June 1, 2005... Donepezil (Aricept) is the only approved pharmacological approach for symptomatic treatment of Alzheimer's disease (AD) in Japan. The results of a prospective cohort study carried out in Japan, and published in the American Journal of...

Effects of donepezil in older healthy adults studied.(News Notes)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2005... Healthy, elderly participants (aged 55-75 years) showed no significant improvement on any tests in a 6-week, double-blind randomized study examining neuropsychological performance following administration of donepezil. Among 25 participants who...

"Do the right dose"--campaign to reduce substance abuse in older adults.(News Notes)
June 1, 2005... A new study released by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) shows a 32% increase in admissions for substance abuse treatment among older adults between 1995 and 2002. During that same time period, the...

ECT response not always related to seizure duration.(Case Report)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2005... Patient: : Female (73 y/o) Treatment: Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) Comment: A 73-year-old woman presented with sudden onset of insomnia, loss of appetite, poor concentration, depressed mood and low energy. She was unable to attend...

FDA warning on Zoloft advertising.(From the FDA)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2005... The FDA's Division of Drug Marketing, Advertising and Communications (DDMAC) has determined that a Pfizer ad for Zoloft, published in the October 24, 2004 New York Times magazine, "is false or misleading because it omits important information...

Pfizer recall of Neurontin lot #15224V.(From the FDA)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2005... Pfizer Inc. and the FDA have notified healthcare professionals of a voluntary recall of 40,000 bottles of 100 mg capsules of Neurontin (gabapentin), an epilepsy medication, following a manufacturing failure that resulted in some bottles...

Ropinirole approved for restless legs syndrome.(From the FDA)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2005... The FDA has approved Requip (ropinirole) to treat moderate to severe restless legs syndrome (RLS). Results of 3 randomized, double-blind placebo, controlled studies showed Requip to be effective for RLS. Common side effects reported in the...

Donepezil (generic): Aricept (brand).(YOUR MEDICATION INFORMATION)
June 1, 2005... CLASSIFICATION: Cholinesterase inhibitor. COMMON USAGE: Donepezil is used to decrease the rate of decline of cognitive function in people with mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease. It may improve cognitive function, particularly memory, in...