Residents in long-term care facilities represent a unique group for whom the prescribing of medications requires extra precautions.
There is considerable evidence of inappropiate prescribing of medications, especially psychotropic medications, in nursing homes.
Rates of use of psychotropic medications vary widely between comparable institutions and between countries.
Approaches to maximize optimal prescribing include legislative approaches, such as OBRA 87 in the United States, educational approaches and the use of drug audits.
Psychotropic medications are considered to be only one part of a multi-faceted treatment program, and should only be initiated after a careful review of the risks and benefits.
Specific target symptoms should be chosen for monitoring, and reassessment of efficacy should occur regularly.
Because the elderly are extremely sensitive to the side-effects of psychotropic medications, staff should be vigilant for these adverse drug reactions.
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