Misuse of Antipsychotic Drugs in Nursing Homes
Ending overmedication of nursing home residents and halting the misuse of antipsychotic drugs as chemical restraints are on top of the national advocacy agenda for the Consumer Voice and its members.
Antipsychotic drugs, when prescribed for elderly persons with dementia, can have serious medical complications, including:
- Death
- Loss of independence
- Over-sedation
- Confusion and
- Falls
Twenty-six percent of all nursing home residents are given antipsychotics; but use is substantially higher (40 percent) among those with cognitive impairments and behavioral symptoms. The Food and Drug Administration has issued “Black Box” warnings that antipsychotics greatly increase the risk of death in persons with dementia.
