geriatrics
Drug Categories of Concern in Older Adults
Antipsychotics
Antipsychotics should be used only for psychosis. In nonpsychotic, agitated patients, antipsychotics control symptoms only marginally better than placebo and can have severe adverse effects. In people with dementia, studies showed antipsychotics increased mortality and risk of stroke, leading the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to issue a black box warning on their use in such patients. Generally, dementia-related behavior problems (eg, wandering, yelling, uncooperativeness) do not respond to antipsychotics. Antipsychotics should not be used merely because a behavioral problem (eg, yelling, repeating phrases) is annoying to people other than the patient. When an antipsychotic is used, the starting dose should be about one quarter the usual starting adult dose and should be increased gradually with frequent monitoring for response and adverse effects. Once the patient responds, the dose should be titrated down, if possible, to the lowest effective dose. The drug needs to be stopped if it is ineffective. Clinical trial data relating to dosing, efficacy, and safety of these drugs in older adults are limited. Antipsychotics can reduce paranoia but may worsen confusion (see also Conventional antipsychotics ). Older adults, especially women, are at increased risk of tardive dyskinesia, which is often irreversible. Sedation, orthostatic hypotension, anticholinergic effects, and akathisia (subjective motor restlessness) can occur in up to 20% of older adults taking an antipsychotic, and drug-induced parkinsonism can persist for up to 6 to 9 months after the drug is stopped. Extrapyramidal dysfunction can develop even when 2nd-generation antipsychotics (eg,olanzapine,quetiapine,risperidone) are used, especially at higher doses. Risks and benefits of using an antipsychotic should be discussed with the patient or the person responsible for the patient's care. Antipsychotics should be considered for behavior problems only when nonpharmacologic options have failed and patients' behaviors pose a threat to themselves or others. 