Doctors urged to reduce inappropriate prescriptions of psychotropic drugs

NHS England has released new guidance to support doctors to reduce the over-prescribing of psychotropic drugs to patients with learning disabilities.

According to NHS England, an estimated 35,000 adults with a learning disability are being prescribed an antipsychotic, an antidepressant or both without appropriate clinical justification.

Research suggests that, in too many cases, these drugs are being prescribed without adequate review and can have adverse affects on patients - ranging from significant weight gain to organ failure and, in some cases, death.

The new toolkit comes as NHS England joins forces with Alistair Burt, Minister of State for Community and Social Care, to tackle the over-prescribing of such drugs.

The ‘Stopping Over-Medication of People with a Learning Disability’ (STOMPLD) pledge was signed by the Royal Colleges of Nursing, Psychiatrists and GPs, as well as the Royal Pharmaceutical Society, the British Psychological Society and NHS England and commits to take steps to reduce over-medication.

Professor Sir Bruce Keogh, NHS England’s national medical director, said: “Reducing use of powerful drugs whenever we can is a good thing. We have managed this successfully in dementia; it’s now time to bring similar benefits to patients who have a learning disability.”

Dr Matt Hoghton, medical director for the RCGP Clinical Innovation and Research Centre, said: “Working collaboratively between healthcare professionals and carers is really important in tackling the appropriate use of psychotropic drugs in our patients with learning disabilities, and signing this pledge today is an important commitment to ensuring they receive the best possible care.

“Whilst GPs rarely initiate these medications, they have a key role to play in reviewing and ensuring our patients with learning disabilities are only taking drugs if they need to, and that their records indicate why they are taking them, so this guidance is welcome.”