Call for curb on dementia drugs

Press Association – Thu, Jun 9, 2011

Patients with dementia who take antipsychotics should have their prescriptions reviewed within a year, campaigners have said.

They hope the action will help reduce the use of such drugs which have been shown to almost double the risk of early death when taken over a prolonged period.

Rebecca Wood, chief executive of the charity Alzheimer’s Research UK, said: “The danger of prescribing antipsychotics long-term for anything other than exceptional circumstances is well established.

“Action to reduce the prescription of these drugs and develop alternative treatments has lacked urgency.

“This campaign, fully supported by Alzheimer’s Research UK, should renew that urgency and drive home the need to invest in more research so that safer, more effective treatments can be found.”

The charity is backing The Right Prescription campaign for patients to have their medication reviewed by March 31.

It will urge eight groups – including GPs, psychiatrists, care home leaders and people with dementia and their carers – to commit to the call and help secure a reduction in the use of antipsychotics.