Approach to agitation in patients with dementia

UTI: urinary tract infection; SSRI: selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor.
* Pharmacologic options for agitation include antipsychotic drugs, citalopram, and dextromethorphan-quinidine. Atypical antipsychotics may be most appropriate for prominent and distressing hallucinations or delusions. Antipsychotic drug treatment should be maintained only if benefits are apparent, and discontinuation should be attempted at regular intervals, weighing the risk of relapse versus the risk of adverse effects from continued treatment. Refer to UpToDate topics on management of neuropsychiatric symptoms of dementia for more details.