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A 23-year-old member asked:
How effective are antipsychotic medications in treating mild dementia?
3 doctor answers • 9 doctors weighed in
Dr. Ramin Rafieanswered
Geriatrics 19 years experience
At times: Antipsychotics are not the first line treatment of dementia...Having said that...At times they are effective.
6.3k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
Dr. Ernest Bordinianswered
Clinical Psychology, Neuropsychology 33 years experience
Tricky question: Antipsychotics are not used for primary treatment of dementia. The properties of older antipsychotics can actually increase dementia symptoms. The newer ones can be used for psychosis in the elderly with less risk than the old, but some increase the risk of diabetes. Often agitation in the elderly is a depressive equivalent which can be treated w/ antidepressants with less side effects.
5.5k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
Dr. Maureen Nashanswered
Geriatric Psychiatry 25 years experience
Psychosis: Antipsychotic medications help with paranoia, hallucinations and delusions not with dementia itself.
5.2k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
Last updated Nov 27, 2017
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