Antidepressants are increasingly being used in long-term care residents for three reasons: (1) to treat depression or depressive symptoms, which might be seen in 30% or more of residents and can be an early indication of dementia; (2) to treat anxiety, depressive symptoms and agitation in early to midstage dementia; and (3) to replace or allow tapering of anti-anxiety agents called benzodiazepines (BZs).

Sedatives Hypnotics Anti-anxiety agents Anti-depressants Anti-arrhythmics Anti-hypertensives Anti-convulsants Anti-psychotics Digitalis and derivatives Drugs with anti-cholinergic side effects Others (mechanism unknown)

Some serotonin-mimicking drugs that attach to 1A receptors "might be considered a major breakthrough in the treatment of anxiety," Peroutka says, because they reduce anxiety without the fatigue caused by other anti-anxiety agents.