SAN FRANCISCO: Earlier this month, Health Canada announced new restrictions on the prescribing of risperidone, an antipsychotic drug commonly given to dementia patients to control aggression and other behaviour problems.
The news didn’t receive any fanfare, possibly because it doesn’t appear to represent any significant change. According to the announcement, doctors are being told to only prescribe risperidone to patients with severe Alzheimer’s disease for the short-term management of aggression or psychotic episodes. Before, the drug was approved for use in any patient with severe dementia for any length of time.
Health Canada says the restrictions were put in place because a safety review showed the drug can put patients at a higher risk of stroke and other cerebrovascular problems…