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Researchers in the UK have found that all drugs used in psychosis
treatment are associated with an increased risk of stroke. The findings
are published on bmj.com,
and include evidence that people who both suffer from dementia and use
antipsychotics are at double the risk of stroke compared to
those without dementia.
Earlier studies have shown that patients who take second generation
(atypical) antipsychotic drugs are at an increased risk of stroke, but
there is little research on how first generation (typical)
antipsychotics affects stroke risk or on how risk differs people with
and without dementia. In 2002 physicians began raising concern
regarding the potential increase in stroke risk for patients taking
atypical antipsychotic drugs - especially in people with dementia. In
fact, a recommendation from the UK's Committee on Safety and Medicines
came in 2004 that said atypical antipsychotics should not be used in
people with dementia, even though there was still no clear evidence to
support the suggestion.
To further explore the relationship between stroke and antipsychotics,
a team of researchers led by Ian J Douglas (London School of Hygiene
and Tropical Medicine) analyzed data from the General Practice Research
Database (GPRD). The GPRD consists of clinical information on more than
six million patients in the UK registered at over 400 general
practices. The researchers analyzed a subsample that included 6.790
patients who had a recorded incident of stroke and at least one
prescription for any antispychotic medication between January 1988 and
the end of 2002.
The researchers found that while patients were receiving any
antipsychotic drug, they were 1.7 times more likely to have a stroke
compared to while not taking an antipsychotic. This effect nearly
doubled to 3.5 times more likely for people with dementia. In addition,
people taking atypical antipsychotics have a slightly higher
probability of having a stroke compared to those taking typical
antipsychotics. No analysis was completed to understand the specific
mechanisms that are behind these differences.
Researchers in the UK have found that all drugs used in psychosis
treatment are associated with an increased risk of stroke. The findings
are published on bmj.com,
and include evidence that people who both suffer from dementia and use
antipsychotics are at double the risk of stroke compared to
those without dementia.
Earlier studies have shown that patients who take second generation
(atypical) antipsychotic drugs are at an increased risk of stroke, but
there is little research on how first generation (typical)
antipsychotics affects stroke risk or on how risk differs people with
and without dementia. In 2002 physicians began raising concern
regarding the potential increase in stroke risk for patients taking
atypical antipsychotic drugs - especially in people with dementia. In
fact, a recommendation from the UK's Committee on Safety and Medicines
came in 2004 that said atypical antipsychotics should not be used in
people with dementia, even though there was still no clear evidence to
support the suggestion.
To further explore the relationship between stroke and antipsychotics,
a team of researchers led by Ian J Douglas (London School of Hygiene
and Tropical Medicine) analyzed data from the General Practice Research
Database (GPRD). The GPRD consists of clinical information on more than
six million patients in the UK registered at over 400 general
practices. The researchers analyzed a subsample that included 6.790
patients who had a recorded incident of stroke and at least one
prescription for any antispychotic medication between January 1988 and
the end of 2002.
The researchers found that while patients were receiving any
antipsychotic drug, they were 1.7 times more likely to have a stroke
compared to while not taking an antipsychotic. This effect nearly
doubled to 3.5 times more likely for people with dementia. In addition,
people taking atypical antipsychotics have a slightly higher
probability of having a stroke compared to those taking typical
antipsychotics. No analysis was completed to understand the specific
mechanisms that are behind these differences.
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