Elderly Patients Who are Given Anti-Psychotic Medications are at a Greater Risk of Acute Kidney Injury
A Message To Nursing Homes to Reduce Anti-Psychotic Drugs
A Message To Nursing Homes to Reduce Anti-Psychotic Drugs – The Annals of Internal Medicine published a recent report about a study that concludes that there are safety concerns about the use of antipsychotic drugs in older adults due to an increased risk of AKI (Acute Kidney Injury). Specifically, Quetiapine, Risperidone, and Olanzapine are known to cause acute kidney injury in older adults (over 65 years of age).
There is already a push by the federal government to get nursing homes to stop using anti-psychotic drugs (which are often used as a form of chemical restraint). This most recent published study should serve as another reminder to the long-term care industry: the use of anti-psychotic drugs in our elderly creates more harm, injuries, and death.
To read more about the study, please visit http://annals.org/article.aspx?articleid=1897100.
The improper use of antipsychotic medications can be a form of elder abuse, especially when used as a chemical restraint. Often times nursing homes do not get the appropriate informed consent for the use of these types of drugs. Further, the risk of injury to our elderly is significant.
Wendy York and the team at York Law Firm have been handling drug errors and the overuse of anti-psychotics in nursing homes as a part of their elder abuse practice for almost 20 years. If you believe your loved one has been the victim of elder abuse or medication errors in a nursing home or assisted living facility, please call our office so that we can investigate your case at 916-643-2200 or contact us. We are dedicated to representing elders and dependent adults who have been injured, neglected or abused.