The Brown University Geriatric Psychopharmacology Update articles from March 2008

The Brown University Geriatric Psychopharmacology Update archives from March 2008

Case reports show etanercept improves AD symptoms--larger trials needed.(ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE)
March 1, 2008... precis * Off-label treatment with the anti-inflammatory drug etanercept (Enbrel) administered as a perispinal injection resulted in marked and rapid improvement in cognitive function in an elderly patient with late-onset Alzheimer's...

Testosterone supplementation fails to increase cognition in men.(AGING PROCESS)(Medical condition overview)(Clinical report)
March 1, 2008... precis * In a double-blind randomized, placebo-controlled trial of 237 healthy men between 60 and 80 years old with a testosterone level lower than 13.7 nmol/L, participants were randomly assigned to receive 80 mg of testosterone...

Acute urinary retention caused by ziprasidone and SSRI.(DRUG-DRUG INTERACTIONS)
March 1, 2008... Urinary retention is a known side effect of the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). The following case described a pharmacodynamic interaction between ziprasidone (Geodon) and SSRI, resulting in acute urinary retention in a...

Statin use not related to Alzheimer's disease or cognition decline.(WHAT'S NEW IN RESEARCH)(Medical condition overview)(Clinical report)
March 1, 2008... precis * A 12-year follow-up study of 929 elderly Catholic clergy without baseline dementia found no associations between statin use and incident AD, changes in cognition or risk of cerebral infarction. The findings are based on baseline...

Gender and antidepressant use linked to late-life depression and mortality.(WHAT'S NEW IN RESEARCH)(Clinical report)
March 1, 2008... precis * An ongoing, longitudinal study of 7,363 non-institutionalized elderly participants (mean age 74 years; 61% female) found a gender-dependent association between depression and mortality risk * Depressed men taking...

Zolpidem ER for elderly patients with primary insomnia.(NEWS NOTES)(Medical condition overview)(Clinical report)
March 1, 2008... Zolpidem extended-release tablets 6.25 mg improved sleep onset and sleep maintenance in elderly patients with primary insomnia. The new extended-release formulation was investigated in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study, of...

Effects of high serum calcium levels on cognitive function.(NEWS NOTES)(Brief article)
March 1, 2008... High serum calcium levels may contribute to faster decline in cognitive function in elderly people. The finding is from a prospective follow-up of subjects in 2 independent population-based studies: the Rotterdam Study (N=3,994; mean age 71...

Gene identified linking high homocysteine and lower cognitive performance.(NEWS NOTES)(Medical condition overview)
March 1, 2008... Researchers have identified the ApoE-[epsilon]4 genotype linking high levels of homocysteine and lower levels of cognition. The finding is from the Maine-Syracuse study of 911 subjects who were free of dementia and stroke at baseline and...

Corticosteroid-induced mania in an older male.(CASE REPORT)(Case study)
March 1, 2008... Patient: Male, 69 years old Medications: Chemotherapy; oral prednisone; risperidone (Risperdal) Case: The patient was brought to the oncology service by his family due to changes in his mental status characterized by manic symptoms, not...

Warnings on compounded hormone therapy drugs.(From the FDA)
March 1, 2008... The FDA has sent letters warning 7 pharmacy operations that their claims of safety and efficacy of "bio-identical hormone replacement therapy" are false and misleading and violate federal law. According to the FDA, the pharmacy operations...

Zolpidem extended release (generic): Ambien CR (brand).(YOUR MEDICATION INFORMATION)
March 1, 2008... CLASSIFICATION: Ambien CR contains zolpidem, which is a non-benzodiazepine hypnotic, and is also a central nervous system (CNS) depressant. COMMON USAGE: Zolpidem is indicated for the treatment of insomnia in adults, characterized by...