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Chemical Cosh Drugs to Be Cut by Two Thirds By Rebecca Smith, Daily Telegraph
October 27, 2010
United Kingdom
It
is estimated 1,800 people die early because of the drugs
Photo: GETTY Currently,
more than 140,000 people with dementia are given antipsychotics in order
to keep them quiet. However
research has shown the drugs, which have no benefits in dementia, double
the chance of death. It
is estimated 1,800 people die early because of the drugs. At
a conference in The
Department of Health has signed up to a new Dementia Action Alliance,
along with 44 other organisations, each making their own pledges. Ruth
Sutherland, Acting Chief Executive of the Alzheimer’s Society, said:
“Nearly 150,000 people with dementia are currently having their lives
put at risk because of dangerous antipsychotic medication. “A
large scale reduction in the scandalous levels of inappropriate
prescription cannot come soon enough and we are delighted to see the
government back up its previous assurances by setting a firm deadline. “These
drugs have been found to double the risk of death and treble the risk of
stroke so ensuring this commitment is met is essential.” The
Alzheimer’s Society released a list of questions that dementia patients
and their families should ask care home staff, their GP or psychiatric
nurse. The
questions are: What
is the treatment being prescribed for and are the drugs appropriate for
this? What
are the benefits and risks of the treatment? How
long has the person with dementia already been on the treatment (It should
be no longer than 12 weeks) What
are the alternative non drug and drug treatments? Why isn’t the person
with dementia receiving access to these alternatives? Does
the person have capacity to give informed consent to continue treatment? If
the treatment is continued and the person does not have capacity, will
there be a best interest meeting to fully discuss all of the options? How long will the person with dementia remain on the treatment for and what are the arrangements for monitoring and reviewing the medication?
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