Tuesday, February 08, 2011

Use of atypical antipsychotics in treatment of dementia declined after FDA warning

In 2001, more than 70 percent of U.S. atypical antipsychotic prescriptions were written for off-label indications such as dementia, and atypical antipsychotics accounted for 82 percent of antipsychotic prescriptions written for older patients in Canada in 2002," according to background information in the article. "In 2005, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a black box warning that stated, 'Treatment of behavioral disorders in elderly patients with dementia with atypical antipsychotic medications is associated with increased mortality. '" Black box warnings are the strongest warnings the FDA issues.

Posted via email from Jack's posterous

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