Antipsychotic drugs are approved mainly for treating schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, but they are also used for many other purposes.
One of the most controversial is reducing disruptive behavior among elderly people with dementia. In the last few years, the FDA has required drug labels to carry warnings regarding this still-common practice, and studies continue to raise questions about its risks and benefits, reports the August 2007 issue of the Harvard Mental Health Letter.
Concern about this issue is not new. A federal law passed in 1987 provides that residents in facilities receiving government support should not receive antipsychotics for problems that are simply inconvenient for caregivers -- such as wandering, insomnia, or uncooperativeness -- but only for agitated, aggressive, or psychotic behavior that is distressing to the patients or dangerous to others. But the guidelines have not prevented continued heavy use in institutions for the elderly.
There is some evidence that the drugs can help. A review of 16 studies found that some antipsychotics might reduce agitation, aggression, and psychosis, although there was little evidence about long-term use. But for many, the risks outweigh the benefits. The drugs may cause tremors, drowsiness, and weight gain, and they may raise the risk for high cholesterol, diabetes, and heart arrhythmias.