Less Prescribed Medicine Can Help Those With Dementia

When those with dementia act out, the most common treatment for prevention is prescribing strong antipsychotic drugs. This cavalier attitude toward antipsychotic drugs has made them one of the most paid for drug categories by Medicaid and are prescribed to at least 1/3 of those in nursing homes. Medicaid officials are alarmed at this improper use of antipsychotics. These prescribed drugs can worsen conditions of dementia. It could lead to more violent situations or cause those with dementia to become more confused.

Usually, dementia patients act out to communicate how they are feeling. There are now centers that advocate less use of prescribed drugs and focus more on why those with dementia behave alarmingly. And this approach seems to work. Most of the time, the patients in these centers are less agitated when they are off the drugs.