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Experts to review dementia drugs

19/06/2008

UK experts are to evaluate the use of antipsychotic drugs for treating people with dementia following concerns they are being wrongly prescribed.

Health minister Ivan Lewis said the review would take place over the coming months and its findings published in the autumn along with the first ever national dementia strategy.

Speaking at the launch of the consultation into the strategy, Mr Lewis said that although there are some occasions where antipsychotic drugs "are entirely appropriate in terms of clinical decisions", there are elements about the drugs "that should be a concern to us all".

"One is the inappropriate prescribing of antipsychotic drugs for symptoms where the solution should be more on the whole about improving the quality of support for people - not medicating them inappropriately," he explained.

"The second issue is that we have emerging evidence that there at least two drugs being prescribed by doctors where the guidance is absolutely clear that these two drugs should not be being prescribed in these circumstances."

The health minister said the review would produce "strong action" to deal with the problem.

Mr Lewis also announced today that the consultation would seek to bring dementia "out of the shadows" by increasing awareness of the condition and removing the stigma associated with it.

Ministers also want to find ways to ensure early diagnosis and intervention and to improve the quality of care people with dementia receive.

Following concerns from charities and eminent scientists about the amount of funding for dementia research, Mr Lewis said the strategy will look at the issue.

"Clearly there is a debate to be had about how much we invest in research with regard to dementia," he admitted.

Neil Hunt, chief executive of the Alzheimer's Society, welcomed the consultation for the dementia strategy, describing today as "a landmark day for people with dementia and their carers".

"It's time to drag dementia care out of the dark ages and change the way we treat some of our most vulnerable older people," he said.

"The [Department of Health's] actions and proposals are a great start. The review of antipsychotic drugs to stop dangerous over prescription to people with dementia is urgently needed. The research summit is also a crucial opportunity to address the fact that dementia research is drastically underfunded in the UK."