The Brown University Geriatric Psychopharmacology Update articles from October 2005

The Brown University Geriatric Psychopharmacology Update archives from October 2005

Severe neuroleptic sensitivity common in Parkinson's disease.(A Parkinsonian Problem)
October 1, 2005... When patients who have dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) or Parkinson's disease (PD) develop visual hallucinations or other symptoms of psychosis, clinicians often turn to antipsychotic medications. Yet, about 30% to 50% of DLB patients who take...

Can rivastigimine reduce concomitant psychotropic drug use in AD patients?(Alzheimer's Disease)
October 1, 2005... Is rivastigimine effective in reducing the need for concomitant psychotropic medications in Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients in long-term care settings? Researchers sought to answer this question by evaluating the safety and efficacy of...

A possible case of drug-induced pancreatitis.(Adverse Events)
October 1, 2005... The overall prevalence of pancreatitis in the United States is relatively low at 0.01% to 1%, depending on whether it occurs in an acute versus a chronic setting. Patients with acute pancreatitis usually present with severe upper abdominal...

Inappropriate drug prescribing in older veterans.(What's New in Research)
October 1, 2005... Inappropriate prescribing in elderly veterans may be a relatively common phenomenon. According to new study data based on over one million pharmacy records of elderly veterans, benzodiazepines, antidepressants, pain relievers, and...

Geriatric depression and antidepressant response.(What's New in Research)
October 1, 2005... Prior antidepressant exposure may help to protect against loss of grey matter in geriatric depression. According to a study published in the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, depressed patients with previous exposure to antidepressants had larger...

CX717 may reverse effects of sleep deprivation and possibly benefit AD patients.(News Notes: Alzheimer's Disease)
October 1, 2005... A new drug, Ampakine (CX717), manufactured by Cortex Pharmaceuticals, has been tested in monkeys to help overcome lack of sleep. The study was partly funded by the U.S. Department of Defense Advance Research Projects Agency, as part of a...

Moderate hyperinsulinemia may raise risk of AD in non-diabetics.(News Notes: Alzheimer's Disease)
October 1, 2005... Moderate hyperinsulinemia may be associated with inflammation of the brain, potentially raising the risk of Alzheimer's disease (AD) through increasing levels of beta-amyloid, even in non-diabetics. These are the findings of a new study carried...

Worsening delusions and hallucinations following memantine treatment.(Case Report)
October 1, 2005... Three case reports document the occurrence of worsening delusions and visual hallucinations following treatment with memantine in patients with a clinical diagnosis of probable dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB). Patient 1: Male, 67 y/o ...

Personalized medicine through genetic testing.(From the FDA)
October 1, 2005... A new DNA-based test was cleared for marketing on August 22, 2005 by the FDA that will help doctors personalize drug treatments for some patients. The Invader UGT1A1 Molecular Assay allows detection of variations in a gene that affects how...

Fluoxetine (generic): prozac, prozac weekly, sarafem (brand).(YOUR MEDICATION INFORMATION)
October 1, 2005... CLASSIFICATION: Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor. COMMON USAGE: Fluoxetine is indicated for the treatment of major depressive disorder and obsessive-compulsive disorder. The efficacy and safety of fluoxetine has not been established...