- MONDAY, Aug. 25 (HealthDay News) — Safety warnings slowed the use of
antipsychotic drugs in seniors with dementia. But the overall use of the
drugs in the elderly increased, a finding which suggests that warnings may
not be sufficient to protect patients, Canadian researchers say.

Between late 2002 and June 2005, Health Canada issued three warnings
that three new atypical antipsychotic drugs increased the risk of stroke
and death in elderly patients with dementia.

The researchers analyzed prescription drug data in the province of
Ontario and found that antipsychotic drug use among the elderly increased
20 percent from the month prior to the first warning in September 2002 to
February 2007. About 70 percent of the seniors receiving antipsychotic
drugs lived in nursing homes, and about 40 percent of them were 85 or
older.

“This finding highlights the limited impact of warnings and suggests
that more effective approaches are needed to protect vulnerable
populations from potentially hazardous medications,” wrote Dr. Geoffrey
Anderson, of the University of Toronto, and colleagues.

The study was published in the Canadian Medical Association
Journal.

Some health care warnings don't have much effect, because the warnings
don't provide doctors with information about the safety and effectiveness
of alternative treatments, Dr. Laurence Katz, of the University of
Manitoba, wrote in an accompanying comment article.

More information

The Annals of Internal Medicine has more about antipsychotic drug use in seniors with dementia.