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Changes in activity patterns after the oral administration of brotizolam in institutionalized elderly patients with dementia
Author(s) -
LIAO Xiao Yan,
YAMAKAWA Miyae,
SUTO Shunji,
SHIGENOBU Kazue,
MAKIMOTO Kiyoko
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
psychogeriatrics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.647
H-Index - 32
eISSN - 1479-8301
pISSN - 1346-3500
DOI - 10.1111/j.1479-8301.2011.00401.x
Subject(s) - medicine , dementia , sedative , incidence (geometry) , hypnotic , anesthesia , physics , disease , optics
Background: Little is known about the side effects of sedative‐hypnotic agents in elderly dementia patients with sleep disorders. The present study describes activity pattern changes after a single dose of brotizolam in elderly patients with dementia. Methods: We conducted retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data from a case series at Asakayama Hospital (Osaka, Japan) between September 2008 and September 2009. Around‐the‐clock movements of dementia patients who were administered a single dose of brotizolam were recorded by the integrated circuit tag monitoring system during a 4‐week baseline and 7‐day peri‐administration period. Diurnal and nocturnal activity levels and the onset times of the least‐active and most‐active phases were then measured. Results: Seven patients (four men, three women; age range 59–85 years) were analyzed. All seven patients had disturbed activity patterns during the peri‐administration period. Compared with the pre‐administration period, the incidence of reversed rest‐activity pattern increased significantly in the post‐administration period, as measured by the distance moved per hour ( P < 0.000). Patients with advanced stages of dementia had prolonged and delayed activity responses. Conclusions: Findings showed changes in activity levels and reversed active/resting phases after a single dose of brotizolam in elderly patients with dementia. Use of brotizolam in elderly patients with dementia, especially in advanced stages, calls for closer attention and longer observation periods.