The Chicago Tribune recently published a series of articles on the use of psychotropic (or antipsychotic) drugs on elderly patients in nursing facilities. The Tribune reviewed more than 40,000 state and federal inspection reports and found that many patients had been prescribed these powerful drugs despite the fact that they had no history of mental illness, no diagnosis of psychosis, and no display of any psychotic symptoms.
This trend is alarming for a variety of reasons, both for patients and their families. The most commonly-used psychotropics carry the FDA’s highest advisory. Some of the side effects include: severe lethargy, permanent involuntary muscle movements, restlessness, seizures and sudden death. Non-psychotic patients who have been prescribed psychotropics are often described by family and nursing staff as “catatonic,” no longer able to talk or attend physical therapy and many have become so lethargic they must be hospitalized. Similarly, as a result of this lethargy there have been a number of cases where nursing home residents suffered serious falls in which psychotropics possibly played a role; some of which led to serious injuries or even death.
Read the links below for some theories on why this is happening, information on your rights and where to direct any complaints.
Five Things to Know About Psychotropics
Compromised Care: Psychotropic drugs given to nursing home patients without cause