Case series: Potential use of guanfacine for safer management of behavioral disturbances in patients with dementia

TL;DR

This paper explores guanfacine as a safer alternative to antipsychotics for managing behavioral issues in dementia patients.

Contribution

The paper presents two new clinical cases suggesting guanfacine's potential effectiveness in managing dementia-related behavioral disturbances.

Findings

Guanfacine was potentially effective in addressing behavioral disturbances in dementia patients at low doses.

The use of guanfacine may reduce reliance on antipsychotics and their associated side effects.

Behavioral improvements were observed in a short period of time.

Abstract

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.

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.

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.