The long-term use of widely-prescribed anti-psychotic drugs is associated with a significant deterioration in the verbal fluency of people with Alzheimer’s and offers no long-term benefit for most patients, according to new research

The neuroleptics which came under analysis in the study were thioridazine (Melleril), chlorpromazine (Largactil), haloperidol (Serenace), trifluoperazine (Stelazine) and risperidone (Risperdal).

The research, published in the open access journal, Public Library of Science Medicine and funded by leading UK charity, the Alzheimer’s Research Trust, is significant for up to 60% of patients with Alzheimer’s disease in nursing homes who are prescribed the drugs, also known as neuroleptics, as a treatment for behavioural symptoms such as aggression. [continue reading…]