Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 24, 2025

Combined Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation and Electroencephalography of the Dorsolateral Prefrontal Cortex
Published on: August 17, 2018
Guanfacine for irritability, impulsivity, and agitation in elderly patients: A report of two cases
Takafumi Miyoshi1, Yayoi Noborio2, Chang Hoonhwa3
1Department of Psychiatry Itami City Hospital, Itami-shi Hyogo Japan.
Background:
Irritability, impulsivity, and agitation in elderly patients with dementia are highly prevalent and extremely burdening for patients, caregivers, and medical staff. In general hospitals, they have been one of the major problems that develop and disturb care and treatment. However, the mechanisms underlying these symptoms remain unclear, and there is no established treatment. In actual clinical practice, antipsychotic drugs and mood stabilizers have been mainly used as pharmacotherapies for these symptoms, but adverse effects of these drugs have often been problematic.
Case Presentation:
We report two valuable cases of elderly patients who were admitted to our hospital due to physical disorders and developed irritability, impulsivity, and agitation, which were effectively treated with guanfacine at very low doses and in a short period.
Conclusion:
The present cases suggest that guanfacine may be a therapeutic option for treating irritability, impulsivity, and agitation in elderly patients.
Related Concept Videos
Parkinson's Disease: Treatment
Parkinson's Disease is primarily a result of the loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta. The cornerstone of...
Antidepressant Drugs: MAOIs and Other Agents
Antidepressant Drugs: Tricyclics, SSRIs, and SNRIs
Anxiolytic Drugs: Benzodiazepines and Buspirone
Antiepileptic Drugs: Potassium Channel Activators
Ezogabine has gained approval as an adjunctive treatment...
Sedatives and Hypnotics Drugs: Miscellaneous Agents
Melatonin congeners like ramelteon (Rozerem) and tasimelteon (Hetlioz) selectively bind to melatonin receptors (MT1 and MT2) and thus mimic the actions of melatonin, a hormone that regulates sleep-wake cycles. Tasimelteon is primarily used for non-24-hour sleep-wake disorder, common in blind patients. They are also used to treat conditions like insomnia...

