Antipsychotic Drug Use Among Adults in Nursing Homes

Antipsychotic drugs are frequently prescribed to older adults with dementia. Dementia affects millions of older adults, causing behavioral symptoms such as mood changes, loss of communication, and agitation. Concerns have been raised about the use of antipsychotic drugs to address the behavioral symptoms of the disease, primarily due to the FDA's boxed warning that these drugs may cause an increased risk of death when used by older adults with dementia and the drugs are not approved for this use. This book examines to what extent antipsychotic drugs are prescribed for older adults with dementia living inside and outside nursing homes; what is known from selected experts and published research about factors contributing to the such prescribing; and to what extent the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has taken action to reduce the use of antipsychotic drugs by older adults with dementia.