Doctors are regularly prescribing two powerful psychiatric drugs, risperidone and olanzapine, to elderly dementia patients despite 2004 safety warning

Doctors 'ignoring drugs warning'
Article on BBC website

Extracts:

"File On 4 questioned 355 GPs and found more than half prescribed the drugs risperidone and olanzapine.

The former Committee on Safety of Medicines (CSM) warned the drugs risked strokes in elderly dementia patients.

Prescribing the drugs was indefensible for many dementia patients, Ivan Lewis, Minister for Care Services, said."

"Dr Tim Kendall, of government agency NICE (The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence), said it was horrifying that some GPs were prescribing these drugs for up to 90% of their dementia patients and it was an "awful indictment."

He added: "I think the doctors should be disciplined.

"A doctor prescribing for 90% of their patients an anti-psychotic when there is enough guidance to say don't - it's unacceptable.""