A study reveals serious side effects from common dementia medications.

Several antipsychotic medications used to treat dementia patients have been linked to dangerous side effects such as heart failure, according to a study released Thursday.

A study published in the British Medical Journal (BMJ) found that using antipsychotics in persons with dementia can lead to major adverse outcomes such as stroke, blood clots, heart attack, heart failure, fracture, pneumonia, and acute kidney injury.

Scientists discovered that the greatest hazards arise when therapy begins, "underscoring the need for increased caution in the early stages of treatment".

Risperidone, quetiapine, haloperidol, and olanzapine are common antipsychotic medications used to treat psychotic illnesses such as schizophrenia.

They are also used to treat depression that has proven resistant to other drugs, as well as those suffering from dementia, such as Alzheimer's disease.

Antipsychotics are not designed to heal these conditions, but rather to alleviate certain symptoms such as aggressive behaviour.

The treatments are very controversial due to their severe adverse effects and limited efficacy.

In France, like in the UK, where the BMJ study was conducted, only risperidone and haloperidol are approved to treat dementia symptoms.

However, the BMJ warns that the study is "observational" and that no "firm conclusions about cause and effect" can be established.

In some circumstances, the adverse effect of pneumonia may outweigh the onset of dementia.

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