Toggle Main Menu Toggle Search

Open Access padlockePrints

Rivastigmine in the treatment of dementia with Lewy bodies: Preliminary findings from an open trial

Lookup NU author(s): Professor Ian McKeith, Dr Janet Grace, Emeritus Professor Elaine Perry

Downloads

Full text for this publication is not currently held within this repository. Alternative links are provided below where available.


Abstract

The objective of this study was to assess the tolerability and efficacy of rivastigmine in a group of patients with probable dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB), using an open label study. Open label treatment was with rivastigmine up to maximum tolerated dose (mean 9.6 mg daily, range 3-12 mg). Eleven patients with DLB, mean age 78.5 years, were treated with this cholinesterase inhibitor. After 12 weeks of treatment, mean Neuropsychiatric Inventory scores fell by 73% for delusions, 63% for apathy, 45% for agitation and 27% for hallucinations. Five of the patients (45%) experienced very significant clinical improvements that had not been achieved with other treatments, including low dose neuroleptics. Medication was well tolerated and parkinsonian symptoms tended to improve. Cholinesterase inhibition may be a safe and effective alternative to neuroleptic treatment in DLB. Such effects may also prove to be applicable to the management of neuropsychiatric symptoms in Parkinson's disease and Alzheimer's disease. Copyright (C) 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.


Publication metadata

Author(s): McKeith IG; Grace JB; Perry EK; Walker Z; Byrne EJ; Wilkinson D; Stevens T

Publication type: Article

Publication status: Published

Journal: International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry

Year: 2000

Volume: 15

Issue: 5

Pages: 387-392

ISSN (print): 0885-6230

ISSN (electronic): 1099-1166

Publisher: John Wiley & Sons

URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/(SICI)1099-1166(200005)15:5<387::AID-GPS131>3.0.CO;2-9

DOI: 10.1002/(SICI)1099-1166(200005)15:5<387::AID-GPS131>3.0.CO;2-9


Altmetrics

Altmetrics provided by Altmetric


Share