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Opioid Analgesics Reduce Use Of Antipsychotics In Persons With Alzheimer's Disease

posted by janrinok on Wednesday March 28 2018, @06:25PM   Printer-friendly
from the I've-forgotten-what-I-was-going-to-write-here dept.

Arthur T Knackerbracket has found the following story:

Initiating an opioid analgesic reduced the use of antipsychotics and benzodiazepines in persons with Alzheimer's disease, a recent study from the University of Eastern Finland shows. These drugs are frequently prescribed to treat behavioural and psychiatric symptoms of dementia, which can be worsened by other symptoms, such as pain. The results were published in International Psychogeriatrics.

The researchers analysed the use of antipsychotics and benzodiazepines six months before and six months after persons with Alzheimer's disease begun using an opioid. These results were then compared to persons with Alzheimer's disease who did not initiate opioid use. After the initiation of an opioid, the researchers found a downward trend in the prevalence of both antipsychotics and benzodiazepines, with the prevalence of antipsychotics reducing more.

The use of antipsychotics and benzodiazepines is very frequent in persons with Alzheimer's disease, but it carries a risk for severe adverse effects, and long-term treatment is generally not recommended. Previous studies have found a decrease in behavioural and psychiatric symptoms of dementia when patients are treated for pain, but this new study now shows, for the first time, a decrease in symptomatic drug use.

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  • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday March 28 2018, @08:26PM (3 children)

    by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday March 28 2018, @08:26PM (#659668)

    what are the effects of opiates on your disease, do they increase, decrease or do no chance the occurence or the intensity of your episode of mania and psychosis ?

  • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday March 28 2018, @08:29PM

    by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday March 28 2018, @08:29PM (#659669)

    Aristarchus is when he doesn't take his meds.

  • (Score: 4, Interesting) by MichaelDavidCrawford on Wednesday March 28 2018, @08:36PM (1 child)

    by MichaelDavidCrawford (2339) Subscriber Badge <mdcrawford@gmail.com> on Wednesday March 28 2018, @08:36PM (#659670) Homepage Journal

    I've only taken opiates just once - codeine cough syrup for a bad cold.

    That was before I was aware I was mentally ill.

    I at first had very little insight into my condition. That resulted in my being unaware when my moods or thoughts were altered due to my mental illness.

    A key step in my progress was my development of such insight.

    --
    Yes I Have No Bananas. [gofundme.com]

    • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday March 28 2018, @09:49PM

      by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday March 28 2018, @09:49PM (#659704)

      thank you for the honest awnse .