Effects of Yokukansan on behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia in regular treatment for Alzheimer's disease

Improving the Quality of Postgraduate Education in Traditional Japanese Kampo Medicine for Junior Residents: An Exploratory Survey Conducted in Five Institutions in the Tohoku Area

“…On the other hand, YKS is prescribed for neurosis, insomnia, and irritability in frailty. Many clinical trials have shown that YKS improved the behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia, such as hallucination, delusion, agitation, and aggression (Iwasaki et al 2005, Mizukami et al 2009, Matsuda et al 2013, Monji et al 2009, Okahara et al 2010. Subsequently, a meta-analysis was performed to examine the effect of YKS on these symptoms (Matsuda et al 2013).…”

Severe metabolic alkalosis, hypokalemia, and respiratory acidosis induced by the Chinese herbal medicine yokukansan in an elderly patient with muscle weakness and drowsiness

“…Recent clinical studies have shown that yokukansan is effective in the treatment of BPSD [7][8][9]. Conventional treatments for BPSD, such as typical and atypical antipsychotic drugs, have various side effects, including impairment of cognitive function, somnolence, extrapyramidal symptoms, and gait disorders, and mortality is higher in elderly patients with dementia using typical or atypical antipsychotic drugs [13].…”

“…Several investigators have recently shown that the Chinese herbal medicine yokukansan can alleviate the behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD), such as hallucinations, delusions, agitation, aggression, and wandering, in patients with Alzheimer's disease, with few side effects [7][8][9]. The numbers of elderly people with Alzheimer's disease have been increasing, and drugs that can safely and effectively mitigate BPSD are, therefore, in demand.…”

Treatment of Dementia-related Symptoms with Japanese Traditional Medicine (Kampo): A Review of Clinical Studies

“…In fact, since 2010, YKS has been listed alongside modern conventional medicine in the Japanese Guidelines for the Management of Dementia by the Japanese Society of Neurology (http://www.neurology-jp.org/guidelinem/nintisyo.html). YKS has a different therapeutic mechanism from that of anti-psychotic agents and improves BPSD and activities of daily living (ADL) without impairing cognitive function or causing extrapyramidal symptoms, which is its greatest advantage in the treatment of elderly patients [5][6][7][8][9][10]. Interestingly, YKS used to be a TCM medicine for symptoms in children such as night cry and sleep terrors.…”

“…Interestingly, YKS used to be a TCM medicine for symptoms in children such as night cry and sleep terrors. Meanwhile, starting in 2005, 5 RCTs have provided support for YKS's efficacy in treating dementia-related symptoms [5,[7][8][9][10] and YKS is now used widely for various symptoms in elderly patients as well as in children in Japan.…”