Contact A Lawyer
Near You

Contact us today for a complimentary consultation with a qualified attorney near you.

Antipsychotics Risky for Patients with Dementia

-June 17, 2008

According to recent reports, antipsychotic drugs can increase the risk of death in patients with dementia.

Although antipsychotic medications aren’t a treatment for dementia, doctors will often prescribe them to patients suffering from delusions, hallucinations and exhibiting violent behavior.

FDA Issues Warning

The FDA issued a warning after a clinical trial found that newer antipsychotics increased the risk of death in dementia patients in 2005.

After this warning the agency required that a black box warning be put on the labels of the medication.

However, a newer study found that older antipsychotics can also pose risks to patients suffering from dementia.

“We just don’t understand the mechanism, but there is an excess risk of mortality when these drugs are used for this indication,” explained Thomas Laughren, the director of the FDA division of psychiatry products.

Ongoing Research

Officials from the FDA claim that the FDA is not telling doctors to avoid the use of antipsychotic drugs for dementia patients, but are simply cautioning families and health care physicians.

The new warning comes in the aftermath of studies that showed the older medications are just as risky as the newer ones.

(Source: WebMD)

Have you or someone you know been harmed by an antipsychotic drug? If so, please contact us to speak with an experienced attorney who will enable you and your loved ones to receive the legal guidance you need and deserve.

Contact a News Recall Lawyer