Nina Vadiei, PharmD and Jeannie Lee, PharmD, College of Pharmacy, University of Arizona
January 2018
|
TIPS FOR PHARMACOTHERAPY OF ANXIETY IN OLDER ADULTS
|
Anxiety disorders are common among older adults and associated with poor quality of life, increased disability, and cognitive impairment. Studies indicate that early treatment targeting full cessation of anxiety symptoms has considerable benefit for older adults. Despite this, anxiety disorders in late life are understudied and underreported, and patients are often under-treated. A variety of behavioral and pharmacological approaches are used to treat anxiety disorders. This edition of Elder Care will focus on evidence-based pharmacotherapy for treating anxiety in older adults.
Prior to Initiating Pharmacotherapy
The goal of treatment should be to improve function by targeting the symptoms that are most disabling/distressing to the patient. This must be done in balance with safety considerations related to aging.
For example, anxiety symptoms are often associated with cognitive and physical complaints in older adults. While successful treatment of anxiety can potentially improve cognition, some medications may worsen cognitive function. Other medications may provide minimal benefit for anxiety while worsening somatic symptoms (e.g., nausea, dizziness, headache) that may be more of a problem for the patient than the emotional symptoms of anxiety.
To develop an appropriate treatment plan, it is important to consider severity of anxiety, prior treatment responses, patient preference, comorbidities, and cognitive status. A medical workup should be completed to evaluate medical causes (Table 1), and these potential causes should be incorporated in the treatment plan. In addition, it is important to review the patient's current medications and determine if there is an opportunity to either discontinue or reduce the dose of any medications that could be contributing to the patient's anxiety symptoms (Table 2). Finally, anxiety and depression commonly co-exist in older adults, and treatment of both conditions is often warranted (Table 3).
|
Table 1. Common Medical Conditions That Cause Anxiety
|
|
| Condition | Anxiety-Like Symptoms |
| B12 deficiency | Palpitations, shortness of breath, loss of appetite |
| Hyperthyroidism | Palpitations, tremor, worry, insomnia, gastrointestinal (GI) distress |
| Cardiac disease | Chest pain, palpitations, shortness of breath, sweating, GI distress |
| Respiratory disease | Dyspnea, hyperventilation, panic |
|
Withdrawal syndromes (e.g., alcohol or benzo)
|
Tremor, irritability |
Investing time to provide psychoeducation is an important step in promoting treatment adherence. This education should be aimed at empowering patients by providing information about the condition being treated, addressing biases/stigma, and identifying barriers that may interfere with medication adherence. Family and care partners should be involved in these discussions so the patient has the benefit of a support network.
| Table 2. Medications That Can Cause Anxiety | |
| Class | Examples |
| Anticholinergics | Diphenhydramine, hydroxyzine, TCAs, benztropine, trihexyphenidyl, some second-generation antipsychotics |
| Antidepressants (during initial weeks of treatment) | SSRIs, SNRIs, bupropion |
| Beta-agonists | Albuterol, formoterol, salmeterol |
| Steroids | Cortisone, dexamethasone, prednisone |
| Stimulants | Caffeine, nicotine, amphetamines, methylphenidate |
|
TCAs = tricyclic antidepressants, SSRIs = selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, SNRIs = serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors
|
|
Pharmacotherapy
Medications commonly used for anxiety are listed in Table 3. Pharmacotherapy choices are based largely on expert opinion and extrapolations from data in younger patients. Note that many drugs that are usually considered antidepressants are often first-choice medications for treating anxiety.
Medications should be selected based on their safety profiles, including side effects and potential drug-drug/drug-disease interactions. In addition, some medications are ill-advised in older adults. For example, bupropion in older adults with concurrent depression and anxiety may worsen anxiety symptoms. Paroxetine and fluoxetine should not be selected as first-choice due to potential drug-drug interactions, paroxetine's anticholinergic profile (on Beers List) and fluoxetine's long half-life. On the other hand, an agent's side-effects may be useful, such as prescribing mirtazapine when patients have difficulty with sleep and/or appetite.
The initial dose should usually be low and sub-therapeutic to assure tolerability. If tolerated, the dose can be slowly titrated upward to avoid adverse effects. If the first-line medication is ineffective after 6 weeks of therapy on an optimal dose, an augmentation strategy (adding a second medication) can be considered, or switching to an alternative medication. Once symptoms are resolved, maintenance therapy should continue at the same dose to avoid relapse. When discontinuing therapy, provide a gradual taper over 4-6 weeks with close monitoring to prevent rebound anxiety symptoms.
| Table 3. Drugs Commonly Used for Treating Anxiety: Initial Geriatric Dose, Target Dose, and Geriatric Considerations | |||
| Medication | Initial Dose | Target Dose | Geriatric Considerations |
| Buspirone (Buspar) | 5 mg BID-TID | 10 mg TID | Split dosing; not effective when used as-needed; few quality-controlled trials performed in older adults; most common side-effects are nausea and headache; generic available |
| Citalopram (Celexa) | 10-20 mg | 20-40 mg | Risk of QT prolongation with dose >20mg/day; GI distress may limit adherence; may cause weight gain or loss; decreased sexual function possible; generic available |
| Duloxetine (Cymbalta) | 20 mg | 40-60 mg | Do not use in liver impairment or creatinine clearance <30 ml/min. Helpful for chronic pain. Use with caution in SIADS; decreased sexual function possible; generic available |
| Escitalopram (Lexapro) | 5-10 mg | 10-20 mg | Less adverse effects; most common are GI distress, fatigue or insomnia, and sexual dysfunction; risk of QT prolongation with dose >10 mg/day; generic available |
| Mirtazapine (Remeron) | 7.5 mg |
15-45 mg |
Sedation (effective in concurrent insomnia), hypotension, and weight gain (effective in concurrent anorexia) can be seen; generic available |
| Sertraline (Zoloft) | 25 mg | 50-200 mg | Less adverse effects compared to other agents; most common side-effects are GI distress, fatigue, insomnia, tremor, and sexual dysfunction; generic available |
| Venlafaxine (Effexor) | 25-75 mg | 75-225 mg | Dose-related hypertension; QT prolongation may occur; weight loss and decreased sexual function possible; generic available |
|
Note: Hydroxyzine (Vistaril) is FDA-approved for treatment of anxiety, but the Beers Criteria make a strong recommendation to avoid using it in older adults due to its anticholinergic properties.
GI = gastrointestinal; SIADS = syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone secretion
|
|||
Deprescribing Benzodiazepines
Some older adults with anxiety disorders have been taking benzodiazepines (with or without antidepressants) for years. Long-term benzodiazepine use is associated with significant risks (Table 4) and is not recommended. Patient and family education is essential to help them understand why it is now necessary to stop taking a long-term medication, and the alternatives that can help with symptom relief. Benzodiazepines can either be tapered gradually or switched to one with a longer half-life before initiating the taper. Slow tapering should occur over several months, with close monitoring, if the patient has been on the agent for more than 6 months.
|
Table 4. Risks of Long-Term Benzodiazepine Therapy
|
References and Resources
- Andreescu C, Varon D. New research on anxiety disorders in the elderly and an update on evidence-based treatments. Curr Psychiatry Rep. 2015;17(7):53.
- Bower ES, et al. Treating Anxiety Disorders in Older Adults: Current Treatments and Future Directions. Harv Rev Psychiatry. 2015;23(5):329-42.
- Mulsant BH, et al. A systematic approach to pharmacotherapy for geriatric major depression. Clin Geriatr Med. 2014;30(3):517-34.
- Sami, MB. Nilforooshan R. The natural course of anxiety disorders in the elderly: a systematic review of longitudinal trials. Int Psychogeriatr. 2015;27(7):1061-9.
- Wolitzky-Taylor KB, et al. Anxiety disorders in older adults: a comprehensive review. Depress Anxiety. 2010;27(2):190-211.