What are psychotropics?
Psychotropics are drugs that effect a person’s mental state. These include:
About prescribing psychotropics
Psychotropics are sometimes used to manage behaviours and psychological symptoms of dementia.
Evidence suggests that, for most people living with dementia, using these medications to manage dementia-related behaviour is contraindicated and can cause harm.
Prescribing antipsychotics or benzodiazepines should be the exception, not the norm.
If you’re thinking of prescribing these medicines, you should:
- talk to family and frontline workers who know the person best
- make sure the person has been assessed to work out what triggers the behaviour
- check other strategies have been tried
Alternatives to prescribing psychotropics
In most cases, a person’s symptoms can be managed without medication.
Help frontline workers and families with problem solving to understand and manage behaviours. Talk with them about whether they have tried any other strategies — what worked and what didn’t.
If you decide to prescribe psychotropics
You should discuss the risks and benefits with the person and their decision maker (if they have one), and get informed consent.
When you have consent:
- start on a low dose and measure the response against the documented behaviours
- increase the dose very gradually, if needed
- plan a regular review for every 4 to 12 weeks
When to deprescribe psychotropics
You should deprescribe psychotropics:
- if there is no improvement in 4 weeks
- if the symptoms do not return after reducing the dose over time
Resources
For more information, see:
- Prescribing psychotropic medications to people in aged care – information and resources
- Six steps for safe prescribing of antipsychotics and benzodiazepines in residential aged care
- Three simple checks to support your residents – for personal care workers in residential aged care
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