Use of antipsychotics for the treatment of behavioural symptoms of dementia.

• It is important to identify those prominent symptoms of behavioural disturbances in dementia that may be effectively managed with antipsychotic medication.
• Pharmacological treatment shall be initiated in emergency situations, when non-pharmacological interventions fail to be effective, or when agitation or aggressive symptoms are severe enough to cause potential harm to the patient or to others.
• Risperidone is the only antipsychotic medication approved for the short-term treatment of persistent aggression in people with Alzheimer-type dementia.
• Haloperidol should only be used in the short-term on emergency management of agitation in adults (rapid tranquilisation).
• Gradual withdrawal (deprescribing) of antipsychotic medication is advisable if no recurrence of symptoms has been experienced in previous attempts. Evidence shows that even in effective treatments, benefits diminish when treatment lasts more than 6 months and continuation may increase adverse events, including death.