title: Galantamine versus risperidone for agitation in people with dementia: a randomized, twelve-week, single-center study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  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.
authors: Department of Neurobiology, Caring Sciences and Society (NVS), Division of Clinical Geriatrics, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
authors: Yvonne
authors: Y
authors: Freund-Levi
authors: Victor
authors: V
authors: Bloniecki
authors: Bjørn
authors: B
authors: Auestad
authors: Ann Christine
authors: AC
authors: Tysen Bäckström
authors: Marie
authors: M
authors: Lärksäter
authors: Dag
authors: D
authors: Aarsland
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003704:Dementia / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D015140:Dementia, Vascular / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D005702:Galantamine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D018697:Nootropic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011595:Psychomotor Agitation / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D018967:Risperidone / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D018697:Nootropic Agents; D005702:Galantamine; D018967:Risperidone