Misuse of antipsychotics found in Illinois nursing homes

Elderly people in nursing homes across Illinois are being giving antipsychotic drugs they don’t need, sometimes with deadly consequences, according to a Chicago Tribune article.

These drugs, which include quetiapine (Seroquel), risperidone (Risperdal), haloperidol (Haldol) and others, can help improve symptoms of schizophrenia and other mental disorders, but they can also cause dangerous side effects, including abnormal limb and body movements, seizures, and rapid heart beat. So it’s essential to use them with caution.

The Tribune investigation, which is based on state and federal inspection reports, found that since 2001, there have been 1,200 violations at Illinois nursing homes involving antipsychotic drugs. In total, 2,900 patients were affected, including 12 who died due to misuse of antipsychotics.

In more than 600 instances, nursing homes had been cited for violating regulations because they gave residents antipsychotic medicines without their permission. More than 200 residents fell after being given antipsychotic drugs, resulting in several deaths and broken hips.

The investigation also found reports of nursing home residents with Alzheimer’s being administered antipsychotics. This is particularly alarming because some of these drugs carry a strong warning that they should not be used for treating this condition because they have been shown to increase the risk of death in people with Alzheimer’s and dementia-related psychosis.

The makers of these drugs have also come under fire. AstraZeneca recently agreed to pay $520 million to settle two federal investigations and two whistleblower lawsuits that it illegally marketed its antipsychotic Seroquel for unapproved uses. AstraZeneca, which declined to provide details about the settlement, also revealed in its latest financial report that it has been hit with more than 14,000 civil lawsuits from patients alleging they developed diabetes and other problems from Seroquel.

—Steve Mitchell, associate editor, Consumer Reports Best Buy Drugs

To learn more about antipsychotics, check out our free Best Buy Drugs report and find out which treatments are most effective for Alzheimer's and for schizophrenia (subscribers only).

Comments

[sharon]

i would like to know about strokes caused by GEODON my son was put in a mental center due to schizophrenia and was given 80 mg twiced a day and once home he had to be taken to emergency room and get shots to counter-react the medicine caused stroke and now has trouble with vision and memory can anyone tell me more about this if so please email me thanks