DementiaRoadmap Wales
Promoting living well with dementia across Wales
Prescribing
When people with dementia exhibit challenging behaviours, whether in their own home, a care home or hospital, they may very often be prescribed antipsychotic drugs which can then have an adverse effect on the physical health of people with dementia.
Good practice recommendations, such as the NICE dementia guidelines, recommend psychosocial interventions as the first line approach and emphasise the importance of assessing medical conditions and pain, which often underpin the development of these symptoms.
The value of not rushing into treatment is also important, as many people with challenging behaviours will experience significant improvement or resolution of symptoms over a 4–6 week period.
Resources
Groups
Resources
- Always a last resort: Inquiry into the prescription of antipsychotic drugs to people with dementia living in care homesApril 4 2008This report published by the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Dementia (APPG) examines the problem of the over prescription of antipsychotic drugs to people with dementia living in care homes and proposes workables solutions.
- Drugs used to relieve behavioural and psychological symptoms in dementiaJanuary 20 2012This factsheet produced by the Alzheimer’s Society explores the different types of drugs that can be used to treat these symptoms if non-pharmalogical treatments have not worked.
- CMG48: Support for commissioning of dementia careApril 3 2013This guidance produced by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) summarises the key commissioning issues and the resource impact that will arise from implementing improvements in the quality of care for people with dementia, in line with the statements and measures that comprise the NICE quality standards for dementia.
- The Right Prescription: resource packSeptember 3 2012This resource pack will support pharmacists, who play a crucial role in medicines optimisation, to have critical conversations about the prescription of antipsychotics in dementia and reduce inappropriate prescribing.
- Optimising treatment and care for behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementiaJuly 28 2011This best practice guide has been developed in consultation with an advisory group of leading clinicians specialising in dementia.
- Reducing the use of antipsychotic drugsJuly 21 2011This leaflet is for people with dementia and their carers who want to know more about behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia and how they can be prevented and treated.
- Dementia patient decision aidSeptember 7 2009This decision aid is intended to assist health professionals considering prescribing acetylcholinesterase inhibitor medication (donepezil, galantamine or rivastigmine) for patients to improve symptoms of dementia and reduce the rate of decline in mental function.
- National dementia and antipsychotic prescribing auditJuly 28 2012The National dementia and antipsychotic prescribing audit aims to gather information from primary care to establish a national picture of prescribing antipsychotic medication in people with dementia.
Groups
- Torfaen medication prompting serviceCrossroads Care South East Wales - Medication Prompting provide trained carer support workers to help people with dementia to take their medication.Ty Siriol County Hospital, Coed Y Gric Road, Griffithstown, Pontypool, Torfaen, NP4 5YA01495 769996https://www.carers.org
- Aneurin Bevan University Health BoardAneurin Bevan University Health Board covers the areas of Blaenau Gwent, Caerphilly, Monmouthshire, Newport, Torfaen and South Powys. It serves an estimated population of over 639,000, approximately 21% of the total Welsh population.St Cadoc's Hospital, Lodge Road, Caerleon, Newport, Wales, NP18 3XQ01873 732732abhb.enquiries@wales.nhs.ukhttps://www.aneurinbevanhb.wales.nhs.uk/