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Antipsychotic drugs increase the risks for cerebrovascular events and death in elderly demented patients. To assess mortality risks associated with specific antipsychotics commonly used in dementia patients, researchers analyzed data from a Veterans Affairs database and a national death registry.
The 45,393 participants with dementia aged >65 received monotherapy with haloperidol, risperidone, olanzapine, quetiapine, valproate or one of its derivatives, or an antidepressant other than a tricyclic or monoamine oxidase inhibitor. They were matched to dementia patients of similar ages not taking any study medications.
In analyses controlling for relevant risk factors, mortality increased significantly over the 180 days after prescription of a st…