Georgia Injury Law Blog
Medicare warnings to nursing homes that are believed to engage in the overuse of antipsychotic drugs among their residents can help reduce these dangerous practices.
Some of the common medications that can be used on nursing home residents include quetiapine which is often used to help treat symptoms of anxiety, hallucinations and delusions among persons suffering from dementia. Research suggests that as many as one in every 7 nursing home residents is prescribed the drug. While the drug can be helpful in controlling the symptoms, it is not without its side effects which include kidney injury, heart failure and an increased risk of strokes and blood clots. According to one study, long term use of quetiapine is associated with a 62% increased risk in kidney damage and a 27% increase in heart failure risks. These residents may also have a 65% increased risk of suffering a stroke. Bone fractures are also another huge risk with an estimated 43% increased risk among patients on quetiapine.
Officials at the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services are currently investigating an increase in the use of antipsychotic medications at some nursing home facilities across the country. As part of the investigation, the agency found that more than 5,000 doctors were aggressively prescribing medications to patients at several facilities. More than 80,000 patients were receiving these medications.