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A recent study published in the British Medical Journal (BMJ) has found that several antipsychotic treatments given to patients with dementia can lead to serious side effects, including heart failure. The study highlights the risks associated with antipsychotic use in individuals with dementia, such as stroke, blood clots, heart attack, fracture, pneumonia, and acute kidney injury. The highest risks were observed at the beginning of treatment, emphasizing the need for caution during the early stages.

Antipsychotics like risperidone, quetiapine, haloperidol, and olanzapine are typically prescribed for patients with psychotic disorders such as schizophrenia. They are also used to treat depression resistant to other medications and to manage symptoms in patients with dementia like Alzheimer’s disease. While these treatments aim to alleviate certain symptoms like aggressive behavior, they do not cure the underlying conditions.

In both France and the UK, only risperidone and haloperidol are authorized for treating dementia symptoms. The study cautions that its findings are observational, and no definitive conclusions can be drawn about cause and effect. It is crucial to consider the potential trade-offs between treating symptoms and the risk of harmful side effects like pneumonia in some cases.

As antipsychotics see a resurgence in prescriptions post the COVID-19 pandemic, experts warn about the potential risks of overprescribing these medications. Neurologists emphasize the importance of proper staff training to manage patient behavior effectively without resorting to harmful antipsychotics unnecessarily. While rare cases may justify the use of these treatments, the study underscores the need for careful consideration of the risks involved.