Galantamine for the treatment of BPSD in Thai patients with possible Alzheimer's disease with or without cerebrovascular disease.
OBJECTIVE
This study was to investigate an efficacy of galantamine in treatment of behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia in Thai elderly who suffered from possible Alzheimer's disease (AD) with or without cerebrovascular disease and vascular dementia.


METHODS
A 6-month, multicenter, open-label, uncontrolled trial was undertaken in 75 patients. Eligible patients received an initial galantamine dose of 8 mg/dayand escalated over 5 to 8 weeks to maintenance doses of 16 or 24 mg/day. The behavioral response was assessed as an intention-to-treat analysis using the Behavioral Pathology in Alzheimer's Disease Rating Scale (BEHAVE-AD).


RESULTS
Galantamine improved behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (P < .05 vs baseline) over the 24 weeks of treatment. BEHAVE-AD score was significantly improved from baseline in paranoid and delusion ideation, diurnal rhythm disturbances, anxieties, and phobias.


CONCLUSIONS
Galantamine may be a well-tolerated and effective treatment option for improving psychotic, behavioral, and psychological symptoms in Thai elderly with possible AD with or without cerebrovascular disease and vascular dementia.
Tangwongchai
S
S
Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand. sookjaroen@gmail.com
Thavichachart
N
N
Senanarong
V
V
Poungvarin
N
N
Phanthumchinda
K
K
Praditsuwan
R
R
Nidhinandana
S
S
Chankrachang
S
S
D000368:Aged; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D001007:Anxiety / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology; D002561:Cerebrovascular Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D002800:Cholinesterase Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003071:Cognition / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D015897:Comorbidity; D003702:Delusions / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology; D003704:Dementia / Q000188:drug therapy*; D015140:Dementia, Vascular / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D005702:Galantamine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010698:Phobic Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D013785:Thailand / Q000453:epidemiology; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D002800:Cholinesterase Inhibitors; D005702:Galantamine