Posted by jamestheyonger on December 3, 2005, at 0:15:09
http://www.medpagetoday.com/Psychiatry/GeneralPsychiatry/tb/2243?pfc=101&spc=230
BOSTON, Nov. 30 - For elderly patients, so-called conventional antipsychotic medications are more likely to cause death than the newer atypical drugs, researchers here say.
The finding comes in the wake of a "black box" warning from the FDA earlier this year that the atypical agents -- such as Zyprexa (olanzapine) and Risperdal (risperidone) -- were associated with increased mortality in elderly patients with dementia
Clinicians, Dr. Wang said in an interview, should not think that "lack of warning means lack of risk" and immediately begin switching patients off the atypical medications.
"Don't assume that either medication class is safe," he said.
In fact, the FDA's announcement of the black box warning said the agency was considering a similar warning for the older drugs, but adds the data are limited
poster:jamestheyonger
thread:584836
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20051126/msgs/584836.html