A recent study has raised concerns about the use of antipsychotic medications in patients with dementia. These drugs, often prescribed to manage agitation and aggression, come with significant risks, including strokes, heart attacks, fractures, pneumonia, and kidney injury. The risks are highest in the early stages of treatment. The study, spanning two decades and involving over 170,000 dementia patients, found that those prescribed antipsychotics faced heightened health risks compared to those who were not. Commonly prescribed drugs like Haldol, Risperdal, and Seroquel were implicated. Notably, the risk of severe conditions like pneumonia and strokes was highest in the first week of treatment. Despite efforts to isolate U.S. user data, concerns remain about the privacy implications, given that TikTok, owned by a Chinese company, will now have access to users’ data through this promotional campaign. Experts emphasize the need for caution in prescribing antipsychotics and advocate for exploring safer alternatives and non-drug interventions to manage behavioral symptoms in dementia patients.
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