Bailey & Greer PLLC

Antipsychotic Drugs on Nursing Home Patients with Dementia Causes Concern

Recent studies have shown that many nursing homes overuse or misuse antipsychotic drugs on patients.  Antipschotic drugs should never be used on patients who do not suffer from psychosis.  But because these types of drugs tend to sedate patients, they are sometimes given to dementia patients in response to combative or violent behavior.  Antipschotic medications do nothing to actually treat dementia and should not be used to control combative behavior.

For a patient who cannot speak, behavior is the only way they can communicate with healthcare providers. A patient with dementia may become combative due to a urinary tract infection, tooth pain, or bedsores.  Treating behavioral problems with antipschotic medicine means that the real cause of the behavior is not effectively diagnosed and treated, increasing the risk of serious injury and death to the patient.

As Midsouth nursing home abuse attorneys, we know all too well that nursing homes who misuse antipschotic mediation often do so because they are understaffed, untrained, and unprepared to handle the medical needs of patients.  If you suspect a loved one is injured in a nursing home due to neglect, call us at 1-888-470-9143 today.