Chemical restraints are drugs that are used in order to subdue nursing home patients. Antipsychotics are the most commonly used chemical restraints. Designed for disorders such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, antipsychotics are often used to subdue patients who suffer from dementia-related agitation, as well. While medical backing exists to support the use of antipsychotics to treat mental illnesses, specialists stress the importance of using behavioral therapies to treat dementia, rather than pharmacological ones.

Dementia-related aggravation is linked to delirium, which is triggered by polypharmacy, the use of too many drugs simultaneously. Therefore, it is inappropriate and illogical to treat delirium by adding even more medications to a patients’ drug routine. Some additional side effects of antipsychotics include stroke, tremors, severe weight loss, slurred speech, pyschosis, and death.

Despite the fact that it doubles the risk of death in dementia patients, many nursing homes continue to use antipsychotics to chemically restrain their patients. The use of chemical restraints is often linked to understaffing. When nursing homes are inadequately staffed, nurses find it necessary to subdue their patients in order to make it easier to care for them. That lives are being put at risk for purposes of convenience is completely unacceptable and needs to be stopped.

Because the use of antipsychotics is so dangerous and too often is a direct cause of death, it is important to understand the risks and take action against the use of chemical restraints. Although it is acceptable to use antipsychotics to treat mental illness, there is no valid excuse for the use of antipsychotics to subdue any other patients. If your loved one is a victim of chemical restraints, you must realize that this is a direct violation of his or her rights, as well as a flagrant form of elder abuse. Contact us today so we can review your case and ensure that your loved one receives just compensation for his or her suffering.