Case series: Potential use of guanfacine for safer management of behavioral disturbances in patients with dementia
Abstract Background Behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD), including irritability, agitation, and anxiety, are common and cause significant distress for both patients and caregivers. These symptoms are linked to caregiver distress and early institutionalization, with disruptive be...
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| Format: | Article |
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Wiley
2025-06-01
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| Series: | PCN Reports |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1002/pcn5.70122 |
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| author | Jeong Hoo Lee Joji Suzuki |
| author_facet | Jeong Hoo Lee Joji Suzuki |
| author_sort | Jeong Hoo Lee |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD), including irritability, agitation, and anxiety, are common and cause significant distress for both patients and caregivers. These symptoms are linked to caregiver distress and early institutionalization, with disruptive behaviors like aggression often leading to emergency care. While antipsychotics have been used to manage BPSD, they are associated with serious side‐effects. There is a critical need for alternative effective and safer treatments that can reduce reliance on antipsychotics. In 2022, the therapeutic use of guanfacine to manage these symptoms in elderly dementia patients was suggested in two cases. Case Presentation We present two additional clinical cases in which guanfacine was potentially effective in addressing behavioral disturbances in dementia patients at low doses and over a short period of time. Conclusion Guanfacine may serve as a beneficial and well‐tolerated option for managing behavioral issues in dementia patients, potentially reducing the reliance on antipsychotics and minimizing the risk of related side‐effects. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-8f0841dcfbfe4c759c2927e1bc067b30 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2769-2558 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-06-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | PCN Reports |
| spelling | doaj-art-8f0841dcfbfe4c759c2927e1bc067b302025-08-20T03:27:10ZengWileyPCN Reports2769-25582025-06-0142n/an/a10.1002/pcn5.70122Case series: Potential use of guanfacine for safer management of behavioral disturbances in patients with dementiaJeong Hoo Lee0Joji Suzuki1Brigham and Women's Faulkner Hospital Boston Massachusetts USAHarvard Medical School Boston Massachusetts USAAbstract Background Behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD), including irritability, agitation, and anxiety, are common and cause significant distress for both patients and caregivers. These symptoms are linked to caregiver distress and early institutionalization, with disruptive behaviors like aggression often leading to emergency care. While antipsychotics have been used to manage BPSD, they are associated with serious side‐effects. There is a critical need for alternative effective and safer treatments that can reduce reliance on antipsychotics. In 2022, the therapeutic use of guanfacine to manage these symptoms in elderly dementia patients was suggested in two cases. Case Presentation We present two additional clinical cases in which guanfacine was potentially effective in addressing behavioral disturbances in dementia patients at low doses and over a short period of time. Conclusion Guanfacine may serve as a beneficial and well‐tolerated option for managing behavioral issues in dementia patients, potentially reducing the reliance on antipsychotics and minimizing the risk of related side‐effects.https://doi.org/10.1002/pcn5.70122agitationbehavioral disturbancedementiaguanfacineneuropsychiatry |
| spellingShingle | Jeong Hoo Lee Joji Suzuki Case series: Potential use of guanfacine for safer management of behavioral disturbances in patients with dementia PCN Reports agitation behavioral disturbance dementia guanfacine neuropsychiatry |
| title | Case series: Potential use of guanfacine for safer management of behavioral disturbances in patients with dementia |
| title_full | Case series: Potential use of guanfacine for safer management of behavioral disturbances in patients with dementia |
| title_fullStr | Case series: Potential use of guanfacine for safer management of behavioral disturbances in patients with dementia |
| title_full_unstemmed | Case series: Potential use of guanfacine for safer management of behavioral disturbances in patients with dementia |
| title_short | Case series: Potential use of guanfacine for safer management of behavioral disturbances in patients with dementia |
| title_sort | case series potential use of guanfacine for safer management of behavioral disturbances in patients with dementia |
| topic | agitation behavioral disturbance dementia guanfacine neuropsychiatry |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1002/pcn5.70122 |
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