Antipsychotic drugs can cause serious side effects.
Health care providers can prescribe these drugs for behavioural symptoms that occur in dementia, but they cause serious side effects.
Side effects include:
- Drowsiness and confusion—which can reduce social contact and mental skills, and increase falls
- Weight gain
- Diabetes
- Shaking or tremors (which can be permanent)
- Pneumonia
- Sudden death
Other approaches often work better.
It is almost always best to try other approaches first, such as the suggestions listed below.
Make sure the patient has a thorough exam and medicine review.
- The cause of the behaviour may be a common condition, such as constipation, infection, vision or hearing problems, sleep problems, or pain.
- Many drugs and drug combinations can cause confusion and agitation in older people.
Talk to a behaviour specialist.
This person can help you find non drug ways to deal with the problem. For example, when someone is startled, they may become agitated. It may help to warn the person before you touch them.
Consider other drugs first.
Talk to your healthcare provider about the following drugs that have been approved for treatment of disruptive behaviours:
- Drugs that slow mental decline in dementia
- Antidepressants for people who have a history of depression or who are depressed as well as anxious
Consider antipsychotic drugs if:
- Other steps have failed
- Patients are severely distressed
- Patients could hurt themselves or others
Start the drug at the lowest possible dose. Caregivers and healthcare providers should watch the patient carefully to make sure that symptoms improve and that there are no serious side effects. The drugs should be stopped if they are not helping or are no longer needed.
