Gabapentin for the treatment of behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia
Affiliation(s)
Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, USA. Department of Psychiatry, University of Maryland, Baltimore, USA. Saint Francis Hospital and Medical Center, Hartford, USA.
Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, USA. Department of Psychiatry, University of Maryland, Baltimore, USA. Saint Francis Hospital and Medical Center, Hartford, USA.
ABSTRACT
Objective: To examine the efficacy of gabapentin for the treatment of behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD). Design: A retrospective chart review. Settings: Tertiary care geriatric psychiatry inpatient unit. Participants: 230 patients with BPSD. Measurements: The socio-demographic information, type of behaviors, co-morbid psychiatric and medical diagnoses, daily doses of medications and side-effects were recorded. Results: Of the 230 patients, 22 were treated with gabapentin. Twenty of these patients were on a combination of gabapentin and an antipsychotic medication while two patients were treated with gabapentin monotherapy. Eighteen of the 20 patients in the combination group tolerated the treatments with little or no side effects as did the two patients in the monotherapy group. Conclusions: Gabapentin may be a safe option for the treatment of BPSD in combination with antipsychotic medications. Gabapentin may also be effective as monotherapy in certain patients with BPSD.
Objective: To examine the efficacy of gabapentin for the treatment of behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD). Design: A retrospective chart review. Settings: Tertiary care geriatric psychiatry inpatient unit. Participants: 230 patients with BPSD. Measurements: The socio-demographic information, type of behaviors, co-morbid psychiatric and medical diagnoses, daily doses of medications and side-effects were recorded. Results: Of the 230 patients, 22 were treated with gabapentin. Twenty of these patients were on a combination of gabapentin and an antipsychotic medication while two patients were treated with gabapentin monotherapy. Eighteen of the 20 patients in the combination group tolerated the treatments with little or no side effects as did the two patients in the monotherapy group. Conclusions: Gabapentin may be a safe option for the treatment of BPSD in combination with antipsychotic medications. Gabapentin may also be effective as monotherapy in certain patients with BPSD.
Cite this paper
Tampi, R., Ozkan, B. and Williamson, D. (2012) Gabapentin for the treatment of behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia. Advances in Alzheimer's Disease, 1, 13-16. doi: 10.4236/aad.2012.12002.
Tampi, R., Ozkan, B. and Williamson, D. (2012) Gabapentin for the treatment of behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia. Advances in Alzheimer's Disease, 1, 13-16. doi: 10.4236/aad.2012.12002.
References
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[1] Barucha, A.J., Rosen, J., Mulsant, B.H. and Pollock, B.G. (2002) Assessment of behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia. CNS Spectrums, 7, 797-802. [2] Lawlor, B. (2002) Managing behavioural and psychological symptoms in dementia. British Journal of Psychiatry, 12, 463-465. doi:10.1192/bjp.181.6.463 [3] Tampi, R.R. and Van Dyck, C.H. (2006) Behavioral and psychological symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease. In: Miao-Kun, S., Ed., Research Progress in Alzheimer’s Dis- ease, Nova Science Publishers, Hauppauge, New York, 245-258. [4] Sink, K.M., Holden, K.F. and Yaffe, K. (2005) Pharmacological treatment of neuropsychiatric symptoms of dementia: A review of the evidence. Journal of American Medical Association, 293, 596-608. doi:10.1001/jama.293.5.596 [5] Birnbaum, A.K. (2007) Pharmacokinetics of antiepileptic drugs in elderly nursing home residents. International Review of Neurobiology, 81, 211-220. doi:10.1016/S0074-7742(06)81013-5 [6] Moretti, R., Torre, P. and Rodolfo, M.A., et al. (2003) Gabapentin for the treatment of behavioural alterations in dementia. Drugs Aging, 20, 1035-1040. [7] Herrmann, N., Lanctot, K. and Myszak, M. (2000) Effectiveness of gabapentin for the treatment of behavioral disorders in dementia. Journal of Clinical Psychopharmacology, 20, 90-93. doi:10.1097/00004714-200002000-00015 [8] Quick Reference to the Diagnostic Criteria from DSM-IV-TR? (2000) American Psychiatric Association, Washington DC, 88-95. [9] Folstein, M., Folstein, S. and McHugh, P. (1975) Minimental state: A practical method for grading the cognitive state of patients for the clinician. Journal of Psychiatric Research, 12, 189-198. doi:10.1016/0022-3956(75)90026-6