"100,000 people with dementia in care homes are being inappropriately prescribed a damaging chemical cosh of antipsychotic drugs and new research suggests that there is a significant problem in hospitals too.
"Antipsychotics should only ever be a last resort. This over prescription is abuse and it must stop.
"The government must urgently publish its plans to tackle the overuse of antipsychotics. These plans must deliver better support for people with dementia and those working with them as well as cracking down on inappropriate prescribing practice.
"We need to make good care the norm and move away from resorting to dangerous drugs which can increase confusion and the risk of premature death. We must all work together to improve dementia care.
"We cannot stand by while this scandalous abuse of vulnerable citizens continues."
It is signed by Neil Hunt, Chief Executive, Alzheimer’s Society; Rebecca Wood, Chief Executive, Alzheimer’s Research Trust; Jeremy Wright MP, Chair, All Party Parliamentary Group on Dementia; Tim Hammond, Managing Director, Barchester Healthcare; Andrew Harrop, Head of Policy Policy, Age Concern and Help the Aged; Martin Green, Chief Executive, English Community Care Association; Imelda Redmond, Chief Executive, Carers UK; David Rogers, Chair Local Government Association Community Wellbeing Board; Stephen Burke, Chief Executive, Counsel and Care; Karen Jennings, Head of Health, UNISON; and Des Kelly, Director, National Care Forum.
Earlier this year, a study published in Lancet Neurology found that antipsychotic drugs double risk of death for many patients if used over a three year period. A second study, using the records of six million people, published by the British Medical Journal online found antipsychotics tripled the risk of stroke in dementia patients.
"Antipsychotics should only ever be a last resort. This over prescription is abuse and it must stop.
"The government must urgently publish its plans to tackle the overuse of antipsychotics. These plans must deliver better support for people with dementia and those working with them as well as cracking down on inappropriate prescribing practice.
"We need to make good care the norm and move away from resorting to dangerous drugs which can increase confusion and the risk of premature death. We must all work together to improve dementia care.
"We cannot stand by while this scandalous abuse of vulnerable citizens continues."
It is signed by Neil Hunt, Chief Executive, Alzheimer’s Society; Rebecca Wood, Chief Executive, Alzheimer’s Research Trust; Jeremy Wright MP, Chair, All Party Parliamentary Group on Dementia; Tim Hammond, Managing Director, Barchester Healthcare; Andrew Harrop, Head of Policy Policy, Age Concern and Help the Aged; Martin Green, Chief Executive, English Community Care Association; Imelda Redmond, Chief Executive, Carers UK; David Rogers, Chair Local Government Association Community Wellbeing Board; Stephen Burke, Chief Executive, Counsel and Care; Karen Jennings, Head of Health, UNISON; and Des Kelly, Director, National Care Forum.
Earlier this year, a study published in Lancet Neurology found that antipsychotic drugs double risk of death for many patients if used over a three year period. A second study, using the records of six million people, published by the British Medical Journal online found antipsychotics tripled the risk of stroke in dementia patients.
2 comments:
They are also killing children through intentional overdosing.
See http://www.fda.gov/downloads/AdvisoryCommittees/CommitteesMeetingMaterials/Drugs/PsychopharmacologicDrugsAdvisoryCommittee/UCM173877.pdf
Page 586 mean pediatric weight ~ 70 kg. (range 40 - 100 kg)
Doctors who recklessly and inappropriately prescribe this pharmaceutical junk and thereby harm their patient/s should be taken to court and charged with a criminal offence.
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