Address antipsych overuse
April 15, 2014
NPS MedicineWise is
encouraging residential aged care
facilities to take on the overuse
of antipsychotic medicines in
people with behavioural problems
associated with dementia.
NPS said it welcomed the
recommendations made in a
Senate Committee report on
the care and management of
Australians living with dementia
that residential aged care facilities
should report when someone had
been prescribed antipsychotic
medication for more than six
months, toegether with the
reasons for and any steps taken
to minimise this use, and general
usage patterns of such medications
in each facility, as part of its
existing annual audit process.
The report also recommended
that the use of such medication
should be reviewed by the
prescribing doctor after the first
three months to assess ongoing
need.
NPS MedicineWise ceo Dr Lynn
Weekes said there was evidence
to suggest instances where
psychotropic medicines were being
used too often, for too long and at
higher doses than recommended.
“Health professionals should
review the need for antipsychotics
regularly. Clinical improvement
would be expected within 12
weeks, and when possible,
attempts should be made to
gradually withdraw the medicine.”
Weekes said NPS had a range
of resources to help aged care
facilities improve resident care,
such as the Quality Use of
Medicine report, to help such
facilities understand and analyse
antipsychotic medicine usage.
To read the Senate Committee
report, CLICK HERE.
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