Psychotropic drugs

‘Urgent reform’ to pharmaceutical care for people with learning disabilities needed, says RPS

Current system of care failing to deliver basic standards for patients, Society warns.…

Medical benefits of cannabis can be separated from unwanted side effects

Scientists have found that inhibiting the effects of a certain receptor in the brains of mice can prevent negative effects of cannabis but keeps benefits such as pain relief.…

Report highlights extent of inappropriate prescribing in adults with learning disabilities

One in six adults with learning disabilities but no diagnosis of mental illness are being prescribed antipsychotic drugs by a GP, according to a new report.…

People with learning disabilities need a ‘bill of rights’ to protect them from medicines misuse

Protection for people with learning disabilities against harm from medicines misuse should be enshrined in law, argues David Branford, immediate past chair of the English Pharmacy Board of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society.…

Tranquillisation of patients with aggressive or challenging behaviour

Although never the first option, rapid tranquillisation may be required to ensure patient and staff safety when a patient exhibits violent behaviour.…

Greater risk of death by antipsychotics in dementia patients, research suggests

The risk of death caused by use of antipsychotic drugs in people with dementia is greater than previously thought, and increases in line with dose, research suggests.…

Paediatric antipsychotic prescribing guidelines are not adhered to, study suggests

Best practice guidelines for treating children and adolescents with antipsychotics are only followed around half of the time, according to research published in Pediatrics.…

Discovering how to identify new psychoactive substances through PhD research

Researcher Amira Guirguis is designing a model to improve on-site identification of new psychoactive substances of misuse. She explains why the work is vital to reduce unnecessary hospital admissions and prevent avoidable deaths.…

The Pharmaceutical Journal’s top 5 comment pieces of 2014

Benedict Lam takes a look back on the most popular and talked about comment pieces of 2014…

Antipsychotics are being used for anxiety and dementia, despite licensed indications

A large proportion of people prescribed antipsychotics do not have a diagnosis of psychosis or bipolar disorder, research indicates.…