Long-Term Use of Neuroleptics among Elderly in a Swedish Community
OBJECTIVE: Analysis of long-term use of neuroleptics among the elderly in a Swedish community. DESIGN: Cohort study, three-year follow-up period. SETTING: Primary care. PATIENTS: All people aged 65 years or older who used neuroleptics in 1984. RESULTS: Neuroleptic use was fairly common among elderly and continued long-term use was relatively frequent. One third of long-term users obtained doses exceeding a recommended dosage range. Prescribed doses were seldom changed during the study period. CONCLUSIONS: The high proportion of long-term users and the stability of the prescribed doses indicate that there is a need for more information to be made available to prescribers regarding the risks of long-term use of neuroleptics in primary care.