Gastrointestinal adverse events in a general population sample of nursing home residents taking cholinesterase inhibitors.

Objective: To assess the occurrence of gastrointestinal (GI) adverse events in a national sample of nursing home residents taking donepezil, galantamine, or rivastigmine.

Design: A retrospective analysis of the Minimum Data Set (MDS) was performed.

Setting: Four hundred-fifty-two nursing facilities across the United States.

Antipsychotic drug use among nursing home residents taking rivastigmine.

Objective: To evaluate whether or not rivastigmine use is associated with a decrease in the initiation of antipsychotic drug therapy among nursing home residents in the United States.

Methods: A retrospective analysis was performed using Minimum Data Set data and physician order files for newly admitted residents of 452 US nursing facilities from 2000 through 2002. The rivastigmine group included those who were diagnosed with Alzheimers disease (AD) and began rivastigmine treatment within 30 days of diagnosis.