Antipsychotic Prescribing in U.S. Nursing Homes Continues at High Levels

Antipsychotic medications continue to be prescribed at high levels in U.S. nursing homes, despite evidence of marginal clinical benefit and substantial risk for adverse effects. To better understand the current state of antipsychotic prescribing in nursing homes, researchers analyzed recent dispensing data (2009–2010) from a long-term care pharmacy that provides medications to half of all nursing home residents nationwide.

Researchers identified 1.4 million nursing home residents, of whom 308,000 (22%) received at least one antipsychotic prescription during the study year. Of more than 4 million antipsychotic prescriptions, most were for the atypical agents quetiapine (31% of total prescriptions), risperidone (24%), and olanzapine (13%). Amo…