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Anti-psychotic drugs have a very limited role in the management of dementia, largely only used as a last resort when the person is in danger of harming themselves or others.
During the Covid-19 pandemic the use of these drugs increased, ostensibly to deal with the distress, anxiety, agitation and aggression probably caused by pandemic restrictions. People were not unreasonably distressed by the absence of care services, stopping, restricting freedom to move about and interact socially and engage in social/ group activities.
However, although further research is needed, there is growing evidence that the use of anti-psychotics has not returned to pre-pandemic levels. National guidelines, expert advice and decades of research all question the justification for anti-psychotics in dementia, their effectiveness and appropriateness, given the damage they incur.
Experts particularly emphasise the failure to prioritise non-pharmacological interventions for people with dementia exhibiting behavioural or psychological symptoms.
Family members caring for a loved one with dementia at home or in care settings will benefit from understanding the impact of anti-psychotic medication, the alternatives that exist and how to go about getting a medication review.
We welcome guest speaker psychiatric pharmacist and researcher Dr Orla Macdonald to talk on this issue and take questions.
How and why is antipsychotic medicine prescribed? What alternative options might be considered? What choices do patients have? What support is out there for patients and their families wishing to request a review of prescribed medication?
This session may be of interest to:
community members from across Irish in Britain
people of all backgrounds with an interest in health
friends and relatives and family carers of older people, people living with dementia and people living with learning disability
people wondering how to request a review of prescribed antipsychotic medication
front line staff, volunteers, trustees, community workers and health advocates across our network of organisations supporting older people and people living with dementia
To facilitate everyone's comfort, you can join this Thoughtful Thursday with a cup of tea without being visible or heard.
Questions are welcomed and will be put to Orla by panellists Dr Mary Tilki, Dr Zibiah Loakthar, Ellen Gavin and Aisling McDowell
You may send these to the panel in advance by emailing champions@irishinbritain.org or may type questions into the chat on the day.
Live captioning will be available to assist access for people with hearing loss.
Dr Orla Macdonald
Orla is a specialist psychiatric pharmacist and an accredited member of the College of Mental Health Pharmacists. In the Bennett Institute for Applied Data Science at the University of Oxford, Orla's research focuses on exploring prescribing trends of psychotropic medicines.
Orla studied Pharmacy at Trinity College, Dublin and gained a Clinical Diploma in Psychiatric Pharmacy from Aston University. She is also the Lead Research Pharmacist at Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust.