Thursday, April 28, 2005

U.S. FDA issues public health advisory for antipsychotic drugs in elderly NewsRx.com story reprinted at PsycPORT - "The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a public health advisory to alert healthcare providers, patients and patient caregivers to new safety information concerning an unapproved (i.e., 'off-label') use of atypical antipsychotic drugs. These drugs are approved for the treatment of schizophrenia and mania, but clinical studies of these drugs to treat behavioral disorders in elderly patients with dementia have shown a higher death rate associated with their use compared to patients receiving a placebo. The advisory applies to such antipsychotic drugs as Abilify (aripiprazole), Zyprexa (olanzapine), Seroquel (quetiapine), Risperdal (risperidone), Clozaril (clozapine) and Geodon (ziprasidone). Symbyax, which is approved for treatment of depressive episodes associated with bipolar disorder, is also included in the agency's advisory. "