Approaches to Deprescribing Psychotropic Medications for Changed Behaviours in Long-Term Care Residents Living with Dementia

AbstractPsychotropic medications have a high risk of serious adverse events and small effect size for changed behaviours for people with dementia. Non-pharmacological approaches are recommended as first-line treatment for changed behaviours, yet psychotropic medications remain highly prevalent in long-term aged care settings. This narrative review describes the current evidence regarding deprescribing psychotropic medications for people with dementia in long-term care. Deprescribing psychotropic medications can be achieved without harm to the person with dementia, and most people experience no withdrawal symptoms. Interventions to deprescribe psychotropic medications should be multifactorial, including lowering the dose of the medication over time, educational interventions and psychological support. However, implementing this is a significant challenge due to the overreliance on psychotropic medications for behavioural management in long-term aged care. Facilitators to deprescribing psychotropic medications in long-term care include multidisciplinary teams with adequate training, education and managerial support, engaging residents and families and change ‘champions’. Deprescribing practices should be person-centred, and an individualised deprescribing protocol should be in place, followed by careful monitoring of the individual. The person with dementia and their family, general practitioner, pharmacist, and allied health and direct care staff s hould all be involved th...
Source: Drugs and Aging - Category: Geriatrics Source Type: research