Drug manufacturers may be thinking about clearer pharmaceutical labels for dementia medication after an initiative was launched to prevent problems occurring with the drugs.
The South West Yorkshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust has asked carers and family members of dementia sufferers to book appointments with their GPs to review use of anti-psychotic medication, the Yorkshire Post reports.
It points out that many should not be taken for longer than three months at a time, something many people may be unaware of.
The government has backed the scheme as part of its plans to reduce the number of people taking anti-psychotic drugs by March 2012.
Mubashshir Fazlee, the principal pharmacist said it is not healthy to take medication that is no longer needed.
"Whilst it would have been correctly prescribed there could be other alternatives available," he added.
According to the NHS, there are around 570,000 people living with dementia in England, a figure that is expected to double in the next 30 years.
Denny Bros Ltd, 14 October 2011
