Drug prescriptions: pledge to reduce 'chemical restraints'

Guidance has been issued to GPs on reducing the use of antipsychotic drugs as ‘chemical restraints’ in people with learning disabilities.

About 35,000 people with learning disabilities are prescribed antidepressants, antipsychotics, or both, to help control behavioural problems, without clinical justification: they should only be prescribed for psychosis or affective/anxiety disorders.

Online toolkit

The guidance, which includes an online toolkit, was published last month by NHS England.

It says that overuse of these drugs is a historic problem as most of this medication was originally prescribed by specialist services, but years of repeat prescriptions have continued unchallenged.

GPs have now been told they should challenge the continuing use of such drugs in this client population and seek alternatives to medication in a person-centred approach. 

Signing up 

Last month community and social care minister Alistair Burt signed a pledge for ‘sustained action’ to tackle overprescribing of such drugs to people with learning disabilities.

The Stopping Over-medication of People with Learning Disabilities pledge was also signed by the RCN, medical royal colleges and the Challenging Behaviour Foundation.

RCN professional lead for learning disabilities and criminal justice Ann Norman said: ‘This pledge should be an opportunity for health and medical professionals to work more closely together to provide a more person-centred approach to the care of people with learning disabilities. People with learning disabilities deserve and expect so much better from their health service.’

To see the toolkit click here