Antipsychotic drugs: Can they help people with Alzheimer's?

How effective are antipsychotic drugs in reducing agitation in people with Alzheimer's disease?

- No name given / Arkansas

Mayo Clinic neuropsychologist Glenn Smith, Ph.D., and colleagues answer select questions from readers.

Answer

Some evidence suggests that antipsychotic drugs may help reduce agitation in people with dementia, such as Alzheimer's disease. However, a comprehensive study published in 2006 showed that these medications may be less effective than previously thought for such use. Also, the Food and Drug Administration has issued a black-box warning about a slight — but statistically significant — increased risk of death in people with dementia who are taking antipsychotic medications.

The bottom line: Antipsychotic medications may help reduce agitation in some people with dementia. But such medications should only be tried after more conservative treatment approaches — such as avoiding potential triggers of agitation — have failed. In addition, these medications should only be prescribed for limited periods and stopped if there's no improvement in the problem behavior or if side effects occur.

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