Richard W. Shulman, MDCM, FRCPC
Geriatric Psychiatrist, Trillium
Health Centre, Mississauga, Ontario
Member, Division of Geriatric Psychiatry,
University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario
In elderly patients suffering from schizophrenia, psychosis due to Alzheimer's disease, or other illnesses, first line treatment with a second-generation (atypical) antipsychotic--as compared to a first generation (conventional) antipsychotic--should be considered standard therapy. The advantage of treatment with a second-generation antipsychotic is, at least in part, due to improved neurologic side effect profiles. The Canadian Clinical Practice Guidelines for the Treatment of Schizophrenia state that treatment with clozapine, olanzapine, quetiapine, and risperidone (at lower doses) markedly reduces acute extra-pyramidal side effects (EPSE).1
Elderly patients treated with relatively low doses of first-generation antipsychotics have been shown to have a 29% cumulative annual incidence of tardive dyskinesia (TD). The incidence of TD in patients treated with atypical antipsychotics is likely to be lower given that EPSE has been found to be a risk factor for TD.2
Olanzapine (Zyprexa) is a second-generation antipsychotic that has shown promise as a safe and effective drug for the treatment of elderly patients suffering from either schizophrenia or psychosis secondary to dementia.
