17 Aug 2018

NZers using more antipsychotics

From The Panel, 4:53 pm on 17 August 2018

The number of New Zealanders taking antipsychotics went up almost 50 per cent between 2008 and 2015.

European women over 65 were the highest users, followed by Maori men between 25 and 44. But there's no evidence rates of psychosis have increased, leading the study authors to suspect off-label prescribing is going on.

The panelists give their view on whether this is a concerning trend.

Variety of medicine bottles behind pills spilling from fallen bottle.

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