Escitalopram versus risperidone for the treatment of behavioral and psychotic symptoms associated with Alzheimers disease: A randomized double-blind pilot study
International Psychogeriatrics, 09/30/2011
Clinical Article
Baraka Y et al. – Escitalopram and risperidone did not differ in efficacy in reducing psychotic symptoms and agitation in patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD). Completion rates were higher for escitalopram-treated patients. Replication in larger trials with ambulatory patients is needed.
Methods- Inpatients with AD
- Had been hospitalized because of behavioral symptoms, recruited to a 6-week randomized, double-blind, controlled trial
- Participants (n = 40) randomized to once daily risperidone 1 mg or escitalopram 10 mg
- NPI total score improved in both groups
- Onset was earlier in the risperidone-treated group, but improvement did not significantly differ between groups by study end
- Completion rates differed for escitalopram (75%) and risperidone (55%), mainly due to AE's
- No AE's in escitalopram group
- Risperidone group 2 patients suffered severe extrapyramidal symptoms and 4 patients suffered acute physical illness necessitating transfer to general hospital
