TY - JOUR
T1 - Anticholinergic and sedative medicines
T2 - prescribing considerations for people with dementia
AU - Bell, J. Simon
AU - Mezrani, Carmel
AU - Blacker, Natalie
AU - LeBlanc, Tammy
AU - Frank, Oliver
AU - Alderman, Christopher P.
AU - Rossi, Simone
AU - Rowett, Debra
AU - Shute, Russell
PY - 2012/1
Y1 - 2012/1
N2 - Background: Older people with dementia may be particularly susceptible to cognitive impairment associated with anticholinergic and sedative medicines. This impairment may be misattributed to the disease process itself. Objective: This review examines clinical considerations associated with using anticholinergic and sedative medicines in people with dementia or incipient cognitive impairment. It highlights issues associated with concomitant use of cholinesterase inhibitors and anticholinergic medicines, and pharmacotherapy of conditions that commonly occur in people with dementia. Discussion: Use of medicines with anticholinergic or sedative properties may result in adverse events by increasing the overall anticholinergic or sedative load. Patients may benefit from clinicians reviewing the anticholinergic load of the current medicine regimen before the initiation of cholinesterase inhibitors or memantine. Reducing the number and dose of anticholinergic and sedative medicines may improve cognitive function and reduce the likelihood of adverse events.
AB - Background: Older people with dementia may be particularly susceptible to cognitive impairment associated with anticholinergic and sedative medicines. This impairment may be misattributed to the disease process itself. Objective: This review examines clinical considerations associated with using anticholinergic and sedative medicines in people with dementia or incipient cognitive impairment. It highlights issues associated with concomitant use of cholinesterase inhibitors and anticholinergic medicines, and pharmacotherapy of conditions that commonly occur in people with dementia. Discussion: Use of medicines with anticholinergic or sedative properties may result in adverse events by increasing the overall anticholinergic or sedative load. Patients may benefit from clinicians reviewing the anticholinergic load of the current medicine regimen before the initiation of cholinesterase inhibitors or memantine. Reducing the number and dose of anticholinergic and sedative medicines may improve cognitive function and reduce the likelihood of adverse events.
KW - Anticholinergic effects
KW - Cholinergic antagonists
KW - Cognition disorders
KW - Dementia
KW - Hypnotics and sedatives
UR - http://www.racgp.org.au/download/documents/AFP/2012/JanFeb/201201jbell.pdf
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84858403597&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.4103/2230-8210.91219
DO - 10.4103/2230-8210.91219
M3 - Article
C2 - 22276284
AN - SCOPUS:84858403597
SN - 0300-8495
VL - 41
SP - 45
EP - 49
JO - Australian Family Physician
JF - Australian Family Physician
IS - 1-2
ER -