From Canada.com:
Antipsychotic drugs are increasingly being prescribed to senior citizens to treat symptoms of dementia, despite the risk of serious side-effects and even death that some of them pose, according to a new study.
The Canadian Institute for Health Information report released Thursday, found that the proportion of Canadian seniors who submitted claims for antipsychotic drugs through public drug plans in six different provinces, increased to five per cent from 4.3 per cent between 2001 and 2007.
The jump occurred during a period when several warnings about the risks of certain antipsychotic drugs among patients with dementia were issued by Health Canada, the Food and Drug Administration in the United States and by drug manufacturers, based on studies that had shown an increased risk of stroke or death. Guidelines were also issued that advised doctors to strongly weigh the benefits of the antipsychotic drugs against their risks. ...more
Showing posts with label antipsychotics. Show all posts
Showing posts with label antipsychotics. Show all posts
Sunday, July 12, 2009
Monday, July 06, 2009
Antipsychotic drug use spiralling in kids, research says
From CBC News:
Medical research out of the University of British Columbia suggests the number of children taking medications known as atypical antipsychotics has increased tenfold over the past decade, CBC News has learned.
The drugs — a class of medicines used to treat psychosis and other mental and emotional conditions — can have potentially serious side-effects, and are linked to increases in stroke and sudden death in adults.
Health Canada has not approved atypical antipsychotics for children.
"None of the atypical antipsychotics approved in Canada [Risperidone, Quetiapine, Olanzapine, Clozapine, Paliperidone, Ziprasidone] are indicated for use in children," Philippe Laroche, a Health Canada spokesman, told CBC News in an email on Thursday. ...more
Medical research out of the University of British Columbia suggests the number of children taking medications known as atypical antipsychotics has increased tenfold over the past decade, CBC News has learned.
The drugs — a class of medicines used to treat psychosis and other mental and emotional conditions — can have potentially serious side-effects, and are linked to increases in stroke and sudden death in adults.
Health Canada has not approved atypical antipsychotics for children.
"None of the atypical antipsychotics approved in Canada [Risperidone, Quetiapine, Olanzapine, Clozapine, Paliperidone, Ziprasidone] are indicated for use in children," Philippe Laroche, a Health Canada spokesman, told CBC News in an email on Thursday. ...more
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
Avoid antipsychotic drugs for elderly, experts urge, after death risk study
From CBC News:
Doctors should try not to prescribe antipsychotic drugs for elderly people with Alzheimer's, geriatricians said following new research that concluded taking people taking the medications had double the risk of dying during the course of the study.
Anti-psychotic medications are sometimes given to control symptoms of dementia in elderly patients, such as wandering and aggressiveness. Generally, the drugs work by subduing the patients, making them easier to manage in facilities such as nursing homes.
In the study appearing in Friday's issue of the medical journal Lancet Neurology, researchers followed 165 patients in Britain aged 67 to 100 with moderate to severe Alzheimer's disease from 2001 to 2004.
Half of the participants continued taking their antipsychotic medications, including Risperdal (risperidone), Thorazine (chlorpromazine) and Stelazine (trifluoperazine). The other half got placebos. ...more
Doctors should try not to prescribe antipsychotic drugs for elderly people with Alzheimer's, geriatricians said following new research that concluded taking people taking the medications had double the risk of dying during the course of the study.
Anti-psychotic medications are sometimes given to control symptoms of dementia in elderly patients, such as wandering and aggressiveness. Generally, the drugs work by subduing the patients, making them easier to manage in facilities such as nursing homes.
In the study appearing in Friday's issue of the medical journal Lancet Neurology, researchers followed 165 patients in Britain aged 67 to 100 with moderate to severe Alzheimer's disease from 2001 to 2004.
Half of the participants continued taking their antipsychotic medications, including Risperdal (risperidone), Thorazine (chlorpromazine) and Stelazine (trifluoperazine). The other half got placebos. ...more
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
Dementia drugs still prescribed, despite warnings
From the Globe and Mail:
Prescription rates of certain antipsychotic drugs given to seniors with dementia have increased significantly despite safety warnings in recent years, according to a new study that questions the effectiveness of the warning mechanisms used by drug makers and Health Canada.
The findings, published today in the Canadian Medical Association Journal, reveal that overall prescriptions of atypical antipsychotic drugs to elderly people suffering from dementia - many of whom live in nursing homes - jumped 20 per cent between 2002 and 2007. Three major safety warnings were issued during that period. "The point is the warnings had a limited impact," said Geoffrey Anderson, professor in the department of health policy, management and evaluation at the University of Toronto and an author of the study. "These are human beings ... It's our duty to protect the care for them."
Atypical antipsychotic drugs are a relatively new class of "second generation" antipsychotic drugs used to treat schizophrenia and other serious psychological problems.
Health Canada issued the first warning about the atypical antipsychotic drug risperidone, sold under the brand name Risperdal, in 2002 after studies showed it was associated with an increased risk of stroke in older dementia patients. Another warning was issued in 2004 about the atypical antipsychotic olanzapine, sold under the name Zyprexa, amid fears of increased risk of stroke and other health issues. ...more
Prescription rates of certain antipsychotic drugs given to seniors with dementia have increased significantly despite safety warnings in recent years, according to a new study that questions the effectiveness of the warning mechanisms used by drug makers and Health Canada.
The findings, published today in the Canadian Medical Association Journal, reveal that overall prescriptions of atypical antipsychotic drugs to elderly people suffering from dementia - many of whom live in nursing homes - jumped 20 per cent between 2002 and 2007. Three major safety warnings were issued during that period. "The point is the warnings had a limited impact," said Geoffrey Anderson, professor in the department of health policy, management and evaluation at the University of Toronto and an author of the study. "These are human beings ... It's our duty to protect the care for them."
Atypical antipsychotic drugs are a relatively new class of "second generation" antipsychotic drugs used to treat schizophrenia and other serious psychological problems.
Health Canada issued the first warning about the atypical antipsychotic drug risperidone, sold under the brand name Risperdal, in 2002 after studies showed it was associated with an increased risk of stroke in older dementia patients. Another warning was issued in 2004 about the atypical antipsychotic olanzapine, sold under the name Zyprexa, amid fears of increased risk of stroke and other health issues. ...more
Monday, May 26, 2008
Antipsychotics given for dementia pose risks: study
From Reuters:
Elderly dementia patients prescribed antipsychotic drugs are at three times the risk of a serious health problem or dying within a month of treatment, compared to those not given the drugs, Canadian researchers said on Monday.
The medications have been used by doctors to treat aggression in people who are not psychotic or schizophrenic, but there are risks for elderly dementia patients prescribed the drugs, according to Dr. Paula Rochon of the Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences in Toronto, and colleagues.
"Of residents newly admitted to a nursing home, 17 percent are started on antipsychotic drugs within 100 days of their admission," often for short periods to control delirium, delusions or aggressive behavior, Rochon wrote. ...more
Elderly dementia patients prescribed antipsychotic drugs are at three times the risk of a serious health problem or dying within a month of treatment, compared to those not given the drugs, Canadian researchers said on Monday.
The medications have been used by doctors to treat aggression in people who are not psychotic or schizophrenic, but there are risks for elderly dementia patients prescribed the drugs, according to Dr. Paula Rochon of the Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences in Toronto, and colleagues.
"Of residents newly admitted to a nursing home, 17 percent are started on antipsychotic drugs within 100 days of their admission," often for short periods to control delirium, delusions or aggressive behavior, Rochon wrote. ...more
Tuesday, April 01, 2008
Psychiatric drugs causing weight gain: doctors
From the Vancouver Sun:
The very drugs millions of Canadians are taking to get through their day can cause dramatic weight gain, doctors are warning.
Psychiatric drug-related weight gain "is a huge problem," says Dr. David Lau, chair of the diabetes and endocrine research group at the University of Calgary and president of Obesity Canada.
"You can see patients gaining 10, 20, 30, 40 pounds," Lau says.
Not everyone taking antidepressants, mood stabilizers or newer generation antipsychotics will gain weight, he stressed. What's more, he said new antipsychotics, so-called "atypical antipsychotics" have been "tremendous in terms of bringing back the functionality of people with schizophrenia, bipolar disorders and depression." ...more
The very drugs millions of Canadians are taking to get through their day can cause dramatic weight gain, doctors are warning.
Psychiatric drug-related weight gain "is a huge problem," says Dr. David Lau, chair of the diabetes and endocrine research group at the University of Calgary and president of Obesity Canada.
"You can see patients gaining 10, 20, 30, 40 pounds," Lau says.
Not everyone taking antidepressants, mood stabilizers or newer generation antipsychotics will gain weight, he stressed. What's more, he said new antipsychotics, so-called "atypical antipsychotics" have been "tremendous in terms of bringing back the functionality of people with schizophrenia, bipolar disorders and depression." ...more
Wednesday, January 09, 2008
Health Canada defends drug alert system
From CBC News:
Despite evidence indicating seniors are being prescribed potentially dangerous drugs, Health Canada says it can't do anything more to make its warnings about these medications more effective.
The department is responding to a CBC News investigation in December revealing that doctors continue to prescribe anti-psychotic drugs to seniors, despite Health Canada warnings in 2005 that the drugs increased the risk of heart attack, stroke and death.
CBC analyzed sales data for the drugs and found that prescriptions increased from seven to 40 per cent for a 24-month period after the warnings. ...more
Despite evidence indicating seniors are being prescribed potentially dangerous drugs, Health Canada says it can't do anything more to make its warnings about these medications more effective.
The department is responding to a CBC News investigation in December revealing that doctors continue to prescribe anti-psychotic drugs to seniors, despite Health Canada warnings in 2005 that the drugs increased the risk of heart attack, stroke and death.
CBC analyzed sales data for the drugs and found that prescriptions increased from seven to 40 per cent for a 24-month period after the warnings. ...more
Wednesday, December 19, 2007
Dangerous drugs continue to be prescribed to seniors: CBC report
From CBC News:
Doctors are continuing to prescribe drugs dangerous to seniors in spite of government warnings, a CBC News investigation reveals.
More than two years ago, CBC News first reported that more than a million seniors were prescribed atypical antipsychotics. Atypical antipsychotics are specific kinds of antipsychotic drugs. They are considered by many experts to be ineffective or even dangerous for elderly patients.
Health Canada followed up with warnings pointing to the drugs' side effects — including a 60 per cent greater risk of death in seniors who were taking the drugs than in patients taking placebos — gleaned from 13 scientific studies. It also warned that elderly patients taking atypical antipsychotics were almost twice as likely to die from side effects such as heart failure. ...more
Doctors are continuing to prescribe drugs dangerous to seniors in spite of government warnings, a CBC News investigation reveals.
More than two years ago, CBC News first reported that more than a million seniors were prescribed atypical antipsychotics. Atypical antipsychotics are specific kinds of antipsychotic drugs. They are considered by many experts to be ineffective or even dangerous for elderly patients.
Health Canada followed up with warnings pointing to the drugs' side effects — including a 60 per cent greater risk of death in seniors who were taking the drugs than in patients taking placebos — gleaned from 13 scientific studies. It also warned that elderly patients taking atypical antipsychotics were almost twice as likely to die from side effects such as heart failure. ...more
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