UK prescribing of antipsychotics for dementia patients shows sharp decline

The percentage of dementia patients in England being prescribed antipsychotic drugs fell sharply over the last six years, says a new report from the Health and Social Care Information Centre (HSCIC). However, there was strong regional variation, with rates of prescribing of antipsychotic drugs up to six times higher in some areas of the country than in others.

The use of antipsychotic medication can lead to serious side effects for people with dementia. The first ever national primary care audit on the subject shows the percentage of dementia patients being prescribed antipsychotic drugs fell by 10 percentage points in the last six years – from 17% in 2006 to 7% in 2011.

Information from nearly 197,000 people with dementia from more than 3,800 practices in England was submitted to National Dementia and Antipsychotic Prescribing Audit.