Correlates of anticholinergic activity in patients with dementia and psychosis treated with risperidone or olanzapine.
BACKGROUND
Older individuals with dementia are highly sensitive to the effects of muscarinic receptor blockade.


METHODS
This was a 6-week multisite, randomized clinical trial.


METHODS
Eighty-six patients with probable Alzheimer's disease, vascular dementia, or mixed-etiology dementia (DSM-IV criteria) were randomly assigned to treatment with olanzapine or risperidone.


METHODS
Anticholinergic activity was measured with a radioreceptor assay, and plasma levels of antipsychotic medications were determined. Primary outcomes were assessed with the Udvalg for Kliniske Undersogelser (UKU) scale and somnolence adverse events; secondary outcome measures included scores on the Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI) and other scales.


RESULTS
There were no between-treatment differences in the UKU scale or in somnolence adverse events. Statistically significant improvements (p < .001) from baseline were found for the NPI measures, with no between-treatment group differences. Olanzapine was associated with significant increases from baseline in anticholinergic activity, while risperidone was not; the between-treatment group differences were not statistically significant. Increase in anticholinergic activity was associated with an increase in anticholinergic side effects and slower performance on the Trail Making Test Part A. Higher endpoint anticholinergic activity was associated with higher endpoint scores on several items from the NPI, including delusions, anxiety, and aberrant motor behavior.


CONCLUSIONS
Efficacious doses of olanzapine increased anticholinergic activity in older patients with dementia, while similarly efficacious doses of risperidone did not. Patients whose anticholinergic activity increased were more likely to experience anticholinergic side effects and to have worsening in certain cognitive domains. These data suggest that certain patients may be vulnerable to the anticholinergic activity associated with antipsychotic treatment.
Mulsant
Benoit H
BH
Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic, Department of Psychiatry, Division of Geriatric Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA. mulsantbh@upmc.edu
Gharabawi
Georges M
GM
Bossie
Cynthia A
CA
Mao
Lian
L
Martinez
Rick A
RA
Tune
Larry E
LE
Greenspan
Andrew J
AJ
Bastean
Jeni N
JN
Pollock
Bruce G
BG
D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000097:blood / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001480:Basal Ganglia Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000175:diagnosis; D001569:Benzodiazepines / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000097:blood / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000175:diagnosis; D003702:Delusions / Q000188:drug therapy; D003704:Dementia / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006212:Hallucinations / Q000188:drug therapy; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018727:Muscarinic Antagonists / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000077152:Olanzapine; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D011869:Radioligand Assay; D011976:Receptors, Muscarinic / Q000187:drug effects*; D018967:Risperidone / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000097:blood / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012893:Sleep Wake Disorders / Q000139:chemically induced; D014145:Trail Making Test; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D018727:Muscarinic Antagonists; D011976:Receptors, Muscarinic; D001569:Benzodiazepines; D018967:Risperidone; D000077152:Olanzapine