Antipsychotic drugs, like Risperdal, are often used to treat neuropsychiatric symptoms (NPS) in dementia sufferers, although there are questions about effectiveness and adverse side effects about such drugs. When behavioral treatments fail, drug therapy is often started. But that is not always the best strategy.

Alberta Health Services in Canada undertook a project to look at usage of antipsychotic drugs such as Risperdal in elderly dementia patients. The researchers believed that patients in this population would respond better with little to no medication.

According to Global News, “The project saw the use of antipsychotic drugs including Zyprexa, Seroquel, Risperdal and Haldol reduced at 11 long-term care facilities around the province.” And since the project started, staff at those facilities that have seen their patients “come alive.”

Researchers included “nine trials with 606 randomised participants. Seven trials were conducted in nursing homes, one trial in an outpatient setting and one in both settings. In these trials, different types of antipsychotics prescribed at different doses were withdrawn. Both abrupt and gradual withdrawal schedules were used.”

“The risk of bias of the included studies was generally low regarding blinding and outcome reporting and unclear for randomisation procedures and recruitment of participants.There was a wide variety of outcome measures. [The] primary efficacy outcomes were success of withdrawal (i.e. remaining in study off antipsychotics) and NPS,“ the researchers wrote.

An added perk of the project, the facilities found, was the cost savings. Not using Risperdal and other antipsychotics with their patients saves thousands of dollars monthly in medication bills.

With the success of the initiative, other nursing homes in Alberta are starting the project.

Uses of Risperdal

Developed in the 1980s, but not released until 1993, Risperdal (risperidone) is an antipsychotic medication created to help adults suffering from brain-based disorders, like bipolar disorder or schizophrenia. A few years after its release, it was approved for use with schizophrenic adolescents (aged 10-17). In 2006, it was approved to treat these conditions in children, as well as aggression and irritability associated with autism.

In the case of those suffering dementia, antipsychotics are commonly prescribed for behavioral issues such as anxiety, aggression and sleep disorders.

The Canadian researchers’ findings suggest “that many older people with Alzheimer’s dementia and NPS can be withdrawn from chronic antipsychotic medication without detrimental effects on their behavior.”

This could be good news for future research and current users of Risperdal, as there are many victims of Risperdal side effects that could benefit from not using the drug.

The most controversial Risperdal side effect is gynecomastia, also known as male breast growth or “man-boobs.”

Gynecomastia is at the root of the hundreds of Risperdal lawsuits currently pending against Johnson & Johnson’s subsidiary, Janssen Pharmaceuticals.