The royal commission’s proposed changes to the use of chemical restraint in aged care are mostly positive, but making it much harder to obtain prescriptions for antipsychotics could have unintended consequences, such as pushing residents onto other powerful medications, says a highly experienced aged care pharmacist.
The commissioners have recommended that as soon as 1 November 2021, only a psychiatrist or geriatrician will be able to “initially prescribe” antipsychotics for aged care residents (recommendation 61).
After that initial decision, GPs will be able to issue repeat prescriptions.
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