Especially in older adults, gabapentin is prescribed to treat behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) (Kim et al., 2008). Several studies have reported that gabapentin has a deleterious effect on cognition (Leach et al., 1997; Meador et al., 1999; Shem et al., 2018). Because chronic non-cancer pain can be reduced but not eliminated, ongoing pain reporting is common in patients with dementia. Chronic Pain in the Elderly Population Persistent pain (three to six months) is present in 25–50% of older adults, and increases with age. Gabapentin has been increasingly prescribed to older adults for off-label indications, and accumulating evidence suggests potential for gabapentin misuse and related adverse events. However, the relation between gabapentin initiation and longer-term neurocognitive changes is not well understood. We describe a case where gabapentin was used to treat a patient with mixed Alzheimer's/vascular dementia presenting with severe aggression requiring hospitalization. The case is followed by a systematic review of current literature of the use of these drugs in aggression in patients with dementia. Pharmacodynamics of pregabalin and gabapentin Apart from the well-described neuropsychiatric effects associated with gabapentinoids, cognitive impairment and dementia should be considered, especially in long-term treatment, patients with higher cDDDs, and younger patients. Since gabapentin is also prescribed to treat behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) 19, gabapentin could be widely prescribed in patients with dementia. However, a recent paper addressed that there is a possibility of an association between gabapentin and cognitive decline 20 . Gabapentin use was significantly associated with decline in cognitive and functional status among older adults with initially normal cognition. Further studies are needed to examine the association. Absolute risk was also expressed as the number needed to harm (NNH) (1 / absolute risk difference). This measure indicates how many patients need to receive a high dose of gabapentin to cause harm to one patient who otherwise would not have been harmed if all patients received a low dose gabapentin (a lower number indicating greater harm). We would like to show you a description here but the site won’t allow us. “Dementia comes with lots of behavioral issues, from changes in sleep and depression to apathy and withdrawal, and providers, patients and caregivers may naturally seek to address these through medications,” says Donovan Maust, M.D., M.S., the lead author of the study and an associate professor of psychiatry at Michigan Medicine, U-M’s 153). Only in 2 out of 11 patients, the up-titration of GBP was limited by mild confusion (patient 1) and mild worsening of bal-ance (patient 7). Patient 1 did not tolerate any other agents, patient 7 did well with addition of a low dose of lorazepam, his nocturnal symptoms improved. Overall, GBP was well tolerated. treatment in the other three patients. Patients were on gabapentin treatment at the time of review from 3 to 5 months. All patients tolerated gabapentin well, and all patients had a significant response to it, both in terms of clinically significant responses. It was felt in each case that, if the aggressive behavior had continued, patients We present the case of a patient with incipient vascular dementia accompanied by nocturnal agitation, which was successfully treated with gabapentin. Gabapentin appears to be useful and well-tolerated in this indication. These findings suggest a possible role for gabapentin in the behavioral management of patients with dementia. Patients with dementia experience progressive cognitive decline and may manifest a variety of behavioral symptoms. The overall response rate was 100% for gabapentin in three patients and 75% for pregabalin in eight patients. These two medications, especially pregabalin with its rapid action mechanism and high efficacy even in lower doses, can be a useful treatment option for agitation in dementia patients. The authors describe the use of gabapentin in the treatment of 4 outpatients with dementia-associated agitation. On the basis of clinical case reports and the Overt Agitation Severity Scale, all 4 patients had reduced agitation with gabapentin. Three of 4 patients were successfully titrated to a full dose of 2,400mg/day. These findings suggest a possible role for gabapentin in the behavioral
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