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18/02/2005
Alzheimer's drug could be worsening illness, research claims
The British Medical Journal (BMJ) have raised concerns about a drug used to treat Alzheimer's Disease, after research revealed that it may make the condition worse.
The results of the research in quetiapine (trade name: Seroquel), which is used to combat agitation and related symptoms in Alzheimer's sufferers, suggested that the drug actually worsens the condition and could speed up a patient's rate of decline "significantly". Quetiapine has been regarded as one of the safer anti-psychotic drugs available.
Anti-psychotic drugs, such as quetiapine, are used in around 45% of nursing homes to treat agitation, which is a common symptom of Alzheimer's disease.
Researchers found that when patients were given a placebo for treatment of agitation, their condition showed little change. However, when the patients were given quetiapine, their condition worsened. The researchers claimed that there was marked deterioration of memory and other higher brain functions (cognitive decline).
The BMJ study examined 93 Alzheimer's and dementia sufferers across the north east of England over six months. The research found that those patients taking quetiapine, experienced a doubling in cognitive decline, compared with the control group, who had been given placebo treatment. These results compared to patients taking a trial anti-psychotic, rivatigmine, who showed little or no worsening of their illness – but no improvement in symptoms above the control group.
Concerns have already been raised regarding the safety of two other common anti-psychotics used in the treatment of Alzheimer's sufferers – risperidone and olanzapine – because of links to an increased stroke risk. The researchers claim that their study suggested that quetiapine is not a viable alternative for these medications and also suggested that it should not be used instead of other drugs for alleviating agitation. The researchers also claimed that the study highlighted concerns over long-term use of anti-psychotics in these patients.
Rebecca Wood, Chief Executive of the Alzheimer's Research Trust, said that the results showed the "huge and pressing need to develop new and safe treatments for people with dementia". She said: "Research into Alzheimer's is severely underfunded and we desperately need to do more to accelerate progress towards finding effective treatments, both for the symptoms and for the underlying disease."
(KMcA/SP)
The results of the research in quetiapine (trade name: Seroquel), which is used to combat agitation and related symptoms in Alzheimer's sufferers, suggested that the drug actually worsens the condition and could speed up a patient's rate of decline "significantly". Quetiapine has been regarded as one of the safer anti-psychotic drugs available.
Anti-psychotic drugs, such as quetiapine, are used in around 45% of nursing homes to treat agitation, which is a common symptom of Alzheimer's disease.
Researchers found that when patients were given a placebo for treatment of agitation, their condition showed little change. However, when the patients were given quetiapine, their condition worsened. The researchers claimed that there was marked deterioration of memory and other higher brain functions (cognitive decline).
The BMJ study examined 93 Alzheimer's and dementia sufferers across the north east of England over six months. The research found that those patients taking quetiapine, experienced a doubling in cognitive decline, compared with the control group, who had been given placebo treatment. These results compared to patients taking a trial anti-psychotic, rivatigmine, who showed little or no worsening of their illness – but no improvement in symptoms above the control group.
Concerns have already been raised regarding the safety of two other common anti-psychotics used in the treatment of Alzheimer's sufferers – risperidone and olanzapine – because of links to an increased stroke risk. The researchers claim that their study suggested that quetiapine is not a viable alternative for these medications and also suggested that it should not be used instead of other drugs for alleviating agitation. The researchers also claimed that the study highlighted concerns over long-term use of anti-psychotics in these patients.
Rebecca Wood, Chief Executive of the Alzheimer's Research Trust, said that the results showed the "huge and pressing need to develop new and safe treatments for people with dementia". She said: "Research into Alzheimer's is severely underfunded and we desperately need to do more to accelerate progress towards finding effective treatments, both for the symptoms and for the underlying disease."
(KMcA/SP)
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