Episode 135: Antipsychotics - use in the elderly - part 4
- Download the MP3 (Right Click, ...Save As)
In episode 135, Mike and James and Adil finally get to the end of their antipsychotic tetralogy as they tackle the especially difficult issue of the use of antipsychotics in the elderly. The problem is non-pharmacological treatments do very little, and one is left with having to decide whether or not to use drugs.
Comments
Lewy-Body dementia and Parkinson's dementia
I would have loved a conversation about the use of antipsychotics in these patients. We try to avoid them and I don't know a lot about the strength of the evidence behind this or what to do if you are at wit's end.
Pain
Hi Mike & James,
Love the podcast...find it great listening in the car on the way to work!
Sure you've come across this study already (http://www.npc.nhs.uk/rapidreview/?p=4119), would seem that patient pain is definitely worth close consideration in terms of the potential positive impact of its treatment on adverse behavioural aspects of dementia and the fact that paracetamol, one of the relatively safer drug interventions in the patient population most affected (the frail elderly), can be effective!
pain meds for elderly with agitation
Hi Mike and James
really love you podcast. I learn lots and also laugh along with you.
So not sure if this is the same study as the note above...I get daily POEMS (recommended by you Mike) by email. Just got one about study in Norwegian nursing home that was in BMJ. They found that "A systematic approach to the management of pain significantly reduced agitation in residents of nursing homes with moderate to severe dementia. Effective management of pain can play an important part in the treatment of agitation and could reduce the number of unnecessary prescriptions for psychotropic drugs in this population."
thanks
Sue
Hi Sue - thanks - glad you
Hi Sue - thanks - glad you enjoy the podcast - I'll fire this off to Mike and add it to our "evidence" pile
Post new comment