Antipsychotic drugs 'carry stroke risk for dementia patients'

Healthcare News
29/08/2008
New research looks into possible links between antipsychotic drugs and stroke risk.

Dementia patients who take antipsychotic drugs are at a significantly increased risk of having a stroke, researchers have found.

The risk of stroke that is associated with antipsychotic medication is more than twice as great among dementia patients than for people without dementia, according to a new study published in the British Medical Journal.

Researchers said that their findings linking such medicines with the increased risk of stroke are consistent with data gained in previous placebo-controlled trials.

The study authors stated: "We reaffirm that the risks associated with antipsychotic drug use in patients with dementia generally outweigh the potential benefits, and use of antipsychotic drugs in these patients should be avoided whenever possible."

When it is deemed that antipsychotic medication should be used, the researchers suggested that "typical" or first-generation antipsychotics are preferable to "atypical" or second-generation drugs in terms of the relative risk of stroke.

Meanwhile, a charity has said that the UK's ageing population should be a reason for celebration as opposed to being solely a cause for concern.

Special advisor at Help the Aged Mervyn Kohler suggested that recent figures which show over-60s now outnumber under-18s in the UK should spur policy-makers into action.

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