Resources to support the appropriate prescribing of antipsychotics for people living with dementia
People living with dementia can sometimes experience distress, become fearful and/or frustrated, resulting in behavioural and psychological or non-cognitive symptoms such as walking with purpose, shouting and repeated questioning.
Psychosocial and environmental interventions should be offered to reduce distress in people living with dementia, with antipsychotic prescribing reserved for those who are either at risk of harming themselves or others, or who are experiencing agitation, hallucinations or delusions that are causing them or their carer severe distress.
Where antipsychotic prescribing is indicated, the aim is to reduce the risk of harm associated with the use of these drugs, and to improve outcomes for the person living with dementia.
This document has been developed by a multi-professional collaborative group following a request from Welsh Government’s Pharmacy and Prescribing Branch to develop a protocol to support the appropriate prescribing and review of antipsychotics for people living with dementia in Wales, in response to the Banerjee Report and the Dementia Action Plan for Wales.
The aim of this document is to guide best practice in the initiation; monitoring; review; tapering and stopping of antipsychotics where they are prescribed for people living with dementia who express distress. It also provides advice to generalists and specialists on management of long-term prescribing of antipsychotics where indicated.
⇩ All Wales protocol for the appropriate prescribing of antipsychotics for people living with dementia 1,291KB (PDF) |
(February 2024)