Antipsychotic drugs: Can they help people with Alzheimer's?

Some evidence suggests that antipsychotic drugs may help reduce agitation in people with dementia, such as Alzheimer's disease. However, a comprehensive study published in 2006 showed that these medications may be less effective than previously thought for such use. Also, the Food and Drug Administration has issued a black-box warning about a slight — but statistically significant — increased risk of death in people with dementia who are taking antipsychotic medications.

The bottom line: Antipsychotic medications may help reduce agitation in some people with dementia. But such medications should only be tried after more conservative treatment approaches — such as avoiding potential triggers of agitation — have failed. In addition, these medications should only be prescribed for limited periods and stopped if there's no improvement in the problem behavior or if side effects occur.