title: [Not Available].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The modalities for anti-dementia drugs' discontinuation are not consensual.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The objectives of the study were the followings, describe: i) the reasons for discontinuation of anti-dementia drugs of patients treated in a residency for dependent elderly people, ii) security of sudden discontinuation, iii) evolution of troubles.
  
  
  METHODS
  Our longitudinal descriptive pilot study aimed at observing consequences of the sudden discontinuation of anti-dementia drugs in a population with a moderate to severe stage of Alzheimer's disease. The study took place in a French residency for dependent elderly people, treated with at least one of the following treatments: rivastigmine, donepezil, galantamine and/or memantine. Based on multidisciplinary decision, as recommended, patient's anti-dementia treatment have been stopped or not. Criteria have been collected for 6months and compared between the two groups: safety, motivation for discontinuation, score mini-mental state examination (MMSE), psycho-behavior criteria and finally the concomitant prescription of psychotropic drugs.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Thirty-three patients were included: the revaluation of anti-dementia treatment led to 22 discontinuations and 11 continuations. Motivations to stop antidementia treatment were: too advanced dementia (48%), lack of therapeutic benefit (28%) or too much of psychotropic medications (24%). The sudden discontinuation was well tolerated with no withdrawal syndrome observed. The variation of MMSE at 6months was -1.8 (SD 2.2) in the discontinuation group (n=14) versus -2.2 (SD 2.0) in the continuation group (n=6). The psycho-behavior disorders have not been aggravated. A reduction in number of psychotropic drugs in the discontinuation group was observed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In this pilot study, the revaluation in accordance with the recommendations of the Haute autorité de santé (HAS) led to the discontinuation of two third of anti-dementia drugs. Safety of sudden discontinuation of MSD remains to be studied.
authors.affiliation: Pôle de Recherche et d'Épidémiologie Clinique, Centre Hospitalo-Universitaire de Caen, Caen, France. Electronic address: peyrosaintpaul-l@chu-caen.fr.
authors.forename: Laure Peyro
authors.initials: LP
authors.lastname: Saint-Paul
authors.affiliation: EHPAD et SSR Gériatrique, Hôpital de Carentan, Carentan, France.
authors.forename: Jocelyne
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Martin
authors.affiliation: Pôle de Recherche et d'Épidémiologie Clinique, Centre Hospitalo-Universitaire de Caen, Caen, France.
authors.forename: Cathy
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gaillard
authors.affiliation: Pôle de Recherche et d'Épidémiologie Clinique, Centre Hospitalo-Universitaire de Caen, Caen, France.
authors.forename: Aline
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Garnier
authors.affiliation: Service de Pharmacologie, Centre Hospitalo-Universitaire de Caen, Caen, France.
authors.forename: Brigitte
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Mosquet
authors.affiliation: Service de Neurologie, Centre Hospitalo-Universitaire de Caen, Caen, France.
authors.forename: Jean-Sébastien
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Guillamo
authors.affiliation: Pôle de Recherche et d'Épidémiologie Clinique, Centre Hospitalo-Universitaire de Caen, Caen, France.
authors.forename: Jean-Jacques
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Parienti
keywords: anti-dementia drug; anticholinesterasique; arrêt; cholinesterase inhibitor; discontinuation; memantine; médicaments spécifiques de la démence; mémantine; safety; sevrage; sécurité; withdrawal