Trazadone causes falls and fractures in the elderly: a study

Toronto, Nov. 26 While it is increasingly necessary to reduce the use of antipsychotics, trazadone – a drug frequently used as an alternative – is badociated with a similar risk of falls and major fractures in the elderly, as atypical antipsychotics, warns a new study.

Although the evidence for efficacy is limited, antipsychotics and trazadone, an antidepressant also used for sleep, are commonly prescribed to patients with dementia.

The study revealed that trazadone patients had a rate of falls and major fractures. including hip fractures similar to atypical antipsychotics.

In addition, trazadone was badociated with a lower risk of death in patients taking the drug.

"While clinicians seek to reduce the use of antipsychotics, we should not consider trazadone as a uniformly safer alternative to atypical antipsychotics, the use was badociated with a comparable risk of falls and from major osteoporotic fractures to atypical antipsychotics, "said Jennifer Watt, a researcher at St. Michael's Hospital in Toronto.

For the study, published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal Journal, the team included 6,588 trazadone newly dispensed in the elderly and 2,875 new atypical antipsychotic.

According to the study, the rate of dementia is nearly 25% in people over 85 years of age.

"We hope that this information can be used to inform clinicians of conversations that patients and caregivers have about the benefits and risks of different treatment options," said Watt.

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bp / rt / almost

Toronto, Nov. 26 While it is increasingly necessary to reduce the use of antipsychotics, trazadone – a drug frequently used as an alternative – is badociated with a similar risk falls and major fractures in the elderly compared to atypical antipsychotics, warns a new study.

Although the evidence for efficacy is limited, antipsychotics and trazadone, an antidepressant also used for sleep, are commonly prescribed to patients with dementia.

The study revealed that trazadone patients had a rate of falls and major fractures. including hip fractures similar to atypical antipsychotics.

In addition, trazadone was badociated with a lower risk of death in patients taking the drug.

"While clinicians seek to reduce the use of antipsychotics, we should not consider trazadone as a uniformly safer alternative to atypical antipsychotics because use was badociated with a comparable risk of falls. and major osteoporotic fractures to atypical antipsychotics, "said Jennifer Watt, a researcher at St. Michael's Hospital in Toronto.

For the study, published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal Journal, the team included 6,588 trazadone newly dispensed in the elderly and 2,875 new atypical antipsychotic.

According to the study, the rate of dementia is nearly 25% in people over 85 years of age.

"We hope that this information can be used to inform clinicians of conversations that patients and caregivers have about the benefits and risks of different treatment options," said Watt.

–

bp / rt / almost