FDA Approves First Non-Antipsychotic Drug to Treat Agitation Associated with Dementia
WHY IT MATTERS
This approval offers Alzheimer's patients and caregivers a new treatment option that may help reduce agitation without the side effects associated with traditional antipsychotic medications.
The FDA has approved a new medication called Auvelity to help calm agitation in people with Alzheimer's disease dementia. This is the first non-antipsychotic drug approved for this specific use, meaning it works differently than older medications that were previously used. Agitation is a common and difficult symptom in Alzheimer's patients, so this new option gives doctors another tool to help manage it.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today approved an expanded use for Auvelity (dextromethorphan hydrobromide and bupropion hydrochloride) extended-release tablets to treat agitation associated with dementia due to Alzheimer’s disease in adults.
ASK YOUR DOCTOR
If you or a loved one has Alzheimer's disease and experiences agitation, ask your doctor at your next appointment whether Auvelity might be appropriate and how it compares to current treatment options.