Past Issues

Objective: To compare the effectiveness and safety of sulpiride and risperidone treatment in older patients with behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD). Methods: The medical records for the all BPSD patients who first attended Taoyuan Mental Hospital from January 1, 2001 through December 31, 2002, and who received risperidone or sulpiride were reviewed to obtain salient information. This included the effectiveness and side effects of the two drugs, compliance for follow-up appointments, and time to discontinuation of treatment in the 3 months after first prescription. The data for the BPSD patients treated with sulpiride or risperidone were then compared. Results: No significant differences in gender and age were demonstrated comparing the risperidone (n = 36) and sulpiride treatment groups (n = 26). The time to discontinuation was 68.4±5.3 (95%CI:58.1-78.8) and 60.3±7.2 (95%CI: 46.3 - 74.5) days, respectively. The overall discontinuation rate during the 3months of follow-up was 50%; 41.7% for the risperidone group and 61.5% for the sulpiride group. Moreover, no significant differences were found in discontinuation rate, treatment response, or side effects during the 3 months of follow up comparing the two groups. Further, we found that the observed side effects for both antipsychotic drugs were common in older patients with BPSD. Conclusion: No significant differences were demonstrated comparing therapeutic response or adverse effects between groups of BPSD patients stratified according to treatment with risperidone or sulpiride; however, adverse effects and early discontinuation were common in older patients irrespective of the drug.