The Brown University Geriatric Psychopharmacology Update articles from June 2007

The Brown University Geriatric Psychopharmacology Update archives from June 2007

Study finds new transdermal rivastigmine patch may be optimal way to deliver treatment.(Alzheimer's Disease)(Clinical report)
June 1, 2007... precis * A 24-week, multicenter double-blind, double-dummy placebo and active-controlled trial of patients with probable Alzheimer's disease (AD). The study compared the effectiveness, safety and tolerability of a rivastigmine transdermal...

Pramipexole as adjunctive treatment in African, Asian and Hispanic Parkinson's disease patients.(The Parkinson Study Group)(Clinical report)
June 1, 2007... precis * The first study to investigate an established therapy for PD in underrepresented minorities in the United States found similar effects of pramipexole in levodopa-treated patients of African, Hispanic and Asian descent. *...

Early onset tardive dyskinesia possibly induced by olanzapine.(Adverse Events)(Clinical report)
June 1, 2007... Tardive dyskinesia is a common side effect associated with long-term use of typical antipsychotic agents. The risk is usually lower with the use of atypical antipsychotic agents. The following case reported an elderly woman developing tardive...

Prolonged release 24-hour ropinirole reduces "off" time in Parkinson's.
June 1, 2007... precis * Prolonged-release 24-hour ropinirole is effective in reducing "off" time in PD patients whose condition is not adequately controlled with levodopa, and may be better tolerated than immediate-release ropinirole, according to...

Experimental drug Pristiq effective in low doses against hot flashes and depression.(News Notes)(Brief article)
June 1, 2007... Low doses of the experimental drug Pristiq (desvenlafaxine succinate) appears to be effective in reducing hot flashes and improving symptoms of depression, according to the drug's manufacturer Wyeth. Pristiq, a serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake...

Long-term escitalopram treatment of major depression in the elderly.
June 1, 2007... In a 52-week open-label extension trial, escitalopram was found to be well tolerated and demonstrated further improvement in depressive symptoms in elderly patients with major depressive disorder. The 225 outpatients (mean age 74 years; 82%...

Valproic acid-induced cognitive impairment in an elderly man.
June 1, 2007... Patient: Male, 81 y/o Medications: valproic acid (Depakene, Depakote), lamotrigine (Lamictal) Case: An elderly man presented with generalized tonic-clonic seizures. A brain-computed tomography (CT) scan revealed vascular hypodensities...

Pergolide withdrawn from the market.
June 1, 2007... The FDA has issued a Public Health Advisory announcing that pergolide (Permax) will voluntarily be removed from the market by its manufacturers and distributors due to the drug's potential for valvular heart disease. The use of pergolide has...

Ropinirole (generic): Requip (Brand).
June 1, 2007... CLASSIFICATION: Non-ergot dopamine agonist. COMMON USAGE: Ropinirole is indicated for treatment of the signs and symptoms of Parkinson's disease (PD), and for the treatment of moderate-to-severe Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS). If you have one...