Family members of those with dementia and Alzheimer's have pushed for years to have legislators strengthen laws around informed consent of anti-psychotic drugs for patients in nursing homes and long-term care facilities, arguing the drugs have unwanted side effects in dementia patients, including seizures.
The drugs are overprescribed, often without a family's consent, as a way for nursing care staff to quell unwanted behavior among patients, they say.
Alzheimer's Association of Massachusetts spokeswoman Betsy Campbell said the organization has been watching the use of these medications for years, and advocating for families to be informed when they are prescribed.
Banker White, whose mother was diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer's disease at 61, said having discussions with his mother's doctor about her medication made all the difference. His mother, who lives in Dedham and is cared for by his father, was prescribed Risperadone, a psychotropic drug that was used to control violent episodes. White would like to see informed written consent be required.
"There needs to be a real understanding of why they are being used; how they are being used, and there is a game plan in place," he said.
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Measure calls for elder-care facilities to obtain consent for psychotropic prescriptions
4 comments:
These are very dangerous drugs; hopefully, MA will be the leader.
These are more than very dangerous, these drugs are extremely dangerous as they can cause death by stroke, heart attack, or pneumonia in the elderly. There is a black box warning. These drugs are extremely dangerous for children and the disabled, they can cause tardive dyskinesia (an permanent involuntary movement of the muscles). These drugs are used to place an individual into a chemical restraint (Chemical Lobotomy) and should be outlawed in our country except on a very temporary basis in an emergency. Period!
My brother's doctor had a man on two of these drugs who was in his late twenties. This doctor at that time suggested to do BRAIN SURGERY on this young man because of his hand tremors, that is go into the brain and kill off brain cells. As it turned out after this man was removed from his care, and taken off the two anti-psychotics, his hand tremors went away. Yes, this doctor has some problems in his treatments and what he is doing to people.
My brother is elderly and was placed on Abilify for objecting to being in this facility. And a ton of other drugs, that he was not on in his apartment. These facilities and the drugs have to go.
If someone is under guardianship the family has no say so...
What big step toward stopping this abusive practice!
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