The Impact of Cholinesterase Inhibitors with or without Memantine on Antipsychotic Prescribing

Abstract

Background Alzheimer's disease (AD) medications have been suggested to positively affect behavior, though not universally in all studies. Their impact on antipsychotic use is not well-defined. Methods This cross-sectional, retrospective study evaluated residents with AD on cholinesterase inhibitors, memantine, both, or neither throughout multiple long-term care facilities during July 2014. Patients were included if they: were between 65 and 89 years of age, had a diagnosis of AD, and had a cognitive assessment within three months of the study period. Patients residing in the facility for 100 days or fewer, or those having a Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services-approved diagnosis for antipsychotic use were excluded. The primary outcome was the prevalence of antipsychotic prescribing in patients receiving AD medications compared with those without AD therapy. The Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center institutional review board approved the study protocol. Results Of 1,282 patients screened, 285 (161 AD medications and 124 no-AD medications) were analyzed. Median cognitive status scores suggested severe cognitive impairment. Patients receiving AD medications had higher antipsychotic utilization compared with those without AD medications (27% vs. 19%, respectively; P = 0.08). Patients receiving combination AD medications had the highest antipsychotic use. No statistically significant differences were detected in cognitive status subgroups. Of interest is that a post-hoc analysis found a statistically significant association with greater antipsychotic use and increasing number of AD medications. Conclusion Long-term care facility residents with AD receiving AD medications had higher rates of antipsychotic use compared with those not receiving AD treatment. The link between antipsychotic use and the number of AD medications may point to overprescribing in dementia with behavioral disturbances as a potential contributing factor.