It works by stopping the brain from making and releasing the prolactin hormone from the pituitary gland. If excessive sedation is given at bedtime, the person may be unable to wake to go to the toilet and incontinence may occur, sometimes for the first time. In Scotland in 2007, 17.7% of people with a diagnosis of dementia were prescribed an antipsychotic, compared to approximately 12% in 2005–2007 in one US study. Generally begin within 1 to 4 days of withdrawal and abate within 7 to 14 days If either of the above occurs the clinician should make an assessment of the risks and benefits of re-instating the previous dose of antipsychotic. There are many different benzodiazepines, some with a short duration of action, such as lorazepam and oxazepam, and some with longer action, such as chlordiazepoxide and diazepam.
Alprazolam (Xanax, also Alprax, Kalma, Zamahexal)  If, after trying non-drug treatments, drugs are considered to be necessary remember:

In order for them to be effective, it is important that they are taken regularly without missing any doses. Symptoms of depression are extremely common in dementia. Slow reduction (25% daily dose) with close monitoringReview the effect after one week to assess for: the re-emergence of the initial ‘target’ symptomsof stress and distressDiscontinuation symptoms include nausea, vomiting, anorexia, diarrhoea, rhinorrhoea, sweating, myalgia, paraesthesia, insomnia, restlessness, anxiety and agitation. Continuous treatment in excess of two to four weeks is not advisable because dependency can occur, making it difficult to stop the medication without withdrawal symptoms. Despite this high rate of use, antipsychotics have only limited benefit in treating symptoms of stress and distress in older people with dementia and carry significant risk of harm (delirium, cerebrovascular events, falls and all-cause mortality).Patients who have dementia and who have been on antipsychotics for more than 3 months and have stable symptoms should be reviewed with a view to reducing or stopping antipsychotic medication. The new generation of cholinesterase inhibitor drugs (donepezil, galantamine and rivastigmine) were originally developed to improve memory and the ability to carry out day-to-day living activities in people with Alzheimer’s disease. Generic names are used in this information sheet – at the end you will find a list of drugs in common use, giving both the generic and proprietary names. Further attempts to reduce the antipsychotic should be made one month later with smaller decrements(10% daily dose) If there are no particular problems after week 1 then the dose should remain the same with further review after week 2 to 4 weeks. Drugs will be more effective if they are taken exactly as prescribed by the doctor, in the correct dose and monitored regularly for side-effects. They might also cause a dry mouth, blurred vision, constipation, difficulty in urination (especially in men) and dizziness on standing, which may lead to falls and injuries. If such a person must be prescribed an antipsychotic, it should be done with the utmost care, under close supervision, and should be monitored regularly. It is important to address these factors in the first instance before resorting to medication. However, while there is some indication that atypical antipsychotics such as risperidone and olanzapine can be beneficial, it is important to balance the potential benefit against possible side effects, which may include increased risk of stroke and death. Researchers around the world are working to develop effective treatments for dementia, and eventually to find a cure.

Medication and management of stressed and distressed behavioursMedication should be used as last, not first resortAntipsychotic drugs are frequently prescribed with the aim of reducing symptoms of stress and distress in people with dementia.