Zyprexa “Not the Answer” for Alzheimer’s Patients

A study comparing the risks and benefits of Zyprexa and other anti-psychotic drugs to patients diagnosed with Alzheimer’s has prompted medical experts to review their use. “Effectiveness of Atypical Antipsychotic Drugs in Patients with Alzheimer's Disease,” which was published in an October 2006 edition of the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM), raised serious questions about their usefulness in Alzheimer’s patients.

“They are perhaps best prescribed in systems of care that can provide the skills and expertise needed to ensure that the risks associated with the drugs are justified by the potential benefits,” said Dr. Jason Karlawish of the University of Pennsylvania's Alzheimer's Disease Center, in an editorial in the same issue as the study.

Dr. Lon Schneider, director of the Alzheimer's Disease Center of California and the lead researcher of the study also took a cautiously optimistic approach. He suggested that patients should be closely monitored over the first few weeks of taking the drug, and that doctors should suspend treatment if there are signs of severe side effects or no improvement.

However the director of the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), the institution that sponsored the study, took a much harder line on the use of these drugs. “These medications are not the answer,” said NIMH Director Dr. Thomas Insel. In a NIMH press release, he also said: “The antipsychotic medications may be effective against some symptoms in Alzheimer's patients compared to placebo, but their tendency to cause intolerable adverse side effects in this vulnerable population offsets their benefits," concluded Schneider.

The five-year trial was conducted at 42 separate sites across the U.S involving 421 patients. These participants had Alzheimer's-related symptoms such as dementia, delusions, aggression, hallucinations, or agitation that were serious enough to affect day-to-day living. To be eligible for the study, patients had to live with a caregiver, but not reside in a nursing home. Caregivers provided doctors with information about the patient’s progress and side effects to the medication.

Participants in each of three groups received Zyprexa, Seroquel, or Risperdal – all powerful anti-psychotics approved by the FDA for use in patients with severe mental illness. A “control” group received a placebo pill.

Results Show Zyprexa and Other Antipsychotics Largely Ineffectual

A full 82% of participants went off the drug they were taking before the end of the study. Of those, 16% - 26% were due to adverse side effects for any of the three drugs, versus just 5% for those on placebo. However there was not much difference in those participants who showed improvement between the four groups. Of those on one of the three drugs, 26% - 32% showed an improvement. Compared to the placebo group’s 21% reported improvement, there may not be any major benefits to taking the drug for the average person.

If you or a loved one has experienced severe side effects while taking Zyprexa or any other medication, contact Jim S. Adler & Associates to find out how we can help. You may be surprised to find out that Zyprexa has never been approved for use in Alheimer’s patients. Though it is not illegal to prescribe Zyprexa for this condition, this study and more like it suggest that the benefits do not outweigh the risks – and not enough is being done to protect Alzheimer’s patients. Call us directly or click on the link below to submit your Zyprexa case for a free case review, and find out what a Jim S. Adler & Associates personal injury attorney can do to help.

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