Anti-Psychotic Drugs in Relation to Alzheimer's

A recent article, published December 4th, 2017, has posed a serious warning about the drugs that are used to treat Alzheimer’s stating that they are “causing patients to die prematurely”. A study done by the University of Finland tracked 57,775 Alzheimer’s patients over the course of six years concluded that not only are anti-psychotic drugs toxic, but they are essentially killing the patients faster than the disease itself(Adl-Tabatabai). The article also shared that the patients diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease were monitored over the course of six years and were diagnosed between 2005 and 2011. The study revealed that 2 anti-psychotic drugs, haloperidol and risperidone, showed a high risk of death. Taking more than one anti psychotic drug at a time increased those risks astronomically. Initially, this was shocking to me. However, after further research I found that the claims made in this article were fictional and a product of fake news in the media.

Although the article seemed compelling, after further research I found several websites supporting that this claim was false and incredibly inaccurate. I found the exact same article word for word posted on more than six different fake news sites. Anti-psychotics, depending on the illness at hand, either increase or decrease the effects of neurotransmitters in the brain bringing them back to normal levels because the nature of mental illness disrupts the chemical balance of the brain. According to WebMD, which is a credible and scholarly source, the side effects of the drug may include dry mouth, dizziness, weight gain or tremors. Death is not a result of the anti-psychotic drugs. The Treatment Advocacy Center’s backgrounder stated in 2016 that “changes in brain structure are caused both by the disease process of schizophrenia and bipolar disorder and by the anti-psychotic drugs used to treat these diseases.”(Dotinga) This means that the brain is already changing, and the anti-psychotic medications make up for what is lost when the disease takes hold.

While anti-psychotics may have some down sides and inappropriate prescription of them can be harmful, they most certainly do not cause death. The video above further adds to the claim that anti-psychotic drugs do not lead to death and are often times necessary to function. According to the Alzheimer’s Society people with dementia and Alzheimer’s experience drastic changes in their behavior and thought process. (Alzheimer's) These medications, when prescribed accordingly, allow balance to be restored when a patient is undergoing those psychological changes. (Administrator) It is challenging for psychologists and medical professionals to appropriately diagnose between dementia, Alzheimer’s, schizophrenia, and other mental disorders. It is recommended that a patient be initially evaluated before given medication and then again, every 3 months. These guidelines would further ensure that the proper medications are being prescribed according to the mental illness at hand.

While the internet can be a great tool for spreading information rapidly, that information is not always factual. Rumors and fake news have plagued social media and now it is difficult to distinguish between the two. This example of fake news claimed that taking anti-psychotic drugs led to premature death. However, after further research and analyzing I found that the information presented in this article were fictional and a product of fake news and were easily refuted.

Works Cited

Adl-Tabatabai, Sean. “Alzheimer’s Drugs Kill Faster Than The Disease — New Study Claims.” Your News Wire, Your News Wire, 4 Dec. 2017, yournewswire.com/alzheimers-drugs-kills-faster/.

Dotinga, Randy. “Antipsychotics and Parkinson’s Early Death Risk.” WebMD, WebMD, 22 Mar. 2016, www.webmd.com/parkinsons-disease/news/20160322/antipsychotic-drugs-tied-to-risk-of-early-death-in-parkinsons-patients#1.

Administrator. “The Brain on Antipsychotic Drugs: What Happens?” Treatment Advocacy Center, www.treatmentadvocacycenter.org/fixing-the-system/features-and-news/2616-the-brain-on-antipsychotic-drugs-what-happens.

“Alzheimer’s Society’s View on Antipsychotic Drugs.” Alzheimer’s Society, www.alzheimers.org.uk/about-us/policy-and-influencing/what-we-think/antipsychotic-drugs.

“What Happens When Antipsychotic Medication Is Decreased or Stopped.” YouTube, YouTube, 4 Aug. 2016, www.youtube.com/watch?v=3P24aLeVVyw.