Galantamine versus Risperidone for Agitation in People with Dementia: A Randomized, Twelve-Week, Single-Center Study

• Published in: Dementia and geriatric cognitive disorders 2014-01, Vol.38 (3-4), p.234-244
• Main Authors: Freund-Levi, Yvonne, Bloniecki, Victor, Auestad, Bjørn, Tysen Bäckström, Ann Christine, Lärksäter, Marie, Aarsland, Dag
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Agitation; Alzheimer Disease - drug therapy; Alzheimer Disease - psychology; Antipsychotic Agents - therapeutic use; Behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia; Biological and medical sciences; Blood. Blood coagulation. Reticuloendothelial system; Degenerative and inherited degenerative diseases of the nervous system. Leukodystrophies. Prion diseases; Dementia; Dementia - drug therapy; Dementia - psychology; Dementia, Vascular - drug therapy; Dementia, Vascular - psychology; Female; Galantamine; Galantamine - therapeutic use; General aspects; Humans; Male; Medical sciences; Medicin och hälsovetenskap; Neurology; Neuropsychiatric symptoms; Nootropic Agents - therapeutic use; Original Research Article; Pharmacology. Drug treatments; Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry; Psychomotor Agitation - drug therapy; Psychomotor Agitation - psychology; Psychopathology. Psychiatry; Risperidone; Risperidone - therapeutic use; Treatment Outcome
• ISSN: 1420-8008; 1421-9824; 1421-9824
• DOI: 10.1159/000362204

Aims: To examine the effects of galantamine and risperidone on agitation in patients with dementia. Methods: A total of 100 patients with dementia and neuropsychiatric symptoms (mean age ± SD: 78.6 ± 7.5 years; 67% female) were included in this 12-week, randomized, parallel-group, controlled, single-center trial. The participants received galantamine (n = 50; target dose: 24 mg) or risperidone (n = 50; target dose: 1.5 mg) for 12 weeks. Results: Both galantamine and risperidone treatment resulted in reduced agitation. However, risperidone showed a significant advantage over galantamine both at week 3 (mean difference in total Cohen-Mansfield Agitation Inventory score: 3.7 points; p = 0.03) and at week 12 (4.3 points; p = 0.01). Conclusions: Agitation improved in both groups, even if the treatment effects were more pronounced in the risperidone group; however, the effects on cognition and other aspects of tolerability were stronger with galantamine.