Medicare urged to crack down on antipsychotic scripts for dementia sufferers

The Obama administration is already working with nursing homes to reduce inappropriate use of antipsychotic meds such as Seroquel, Risperdal and Zyprexa. But federal investigators now say officials need to focus on overuse in dementia patients. They're recommending that Medicare officials take immediate action to cut down on unnecessary scripts, The New York Times reports. Drugmakers have paid billions to settle Justice Department off-label marketing claims, including allegations that they pushed the drugs for use in the elderly. More (sub. req.)