Antipsychotics are medications used for the treatment of acute and chronic psychosis and other psychotic conditions. Besides their defined indication by the Food and Drug Administration, antipsychotics are often used and misused for off-label conditions such as depression, post-traumatic stress disorder and insomnia. Like all other medications, they have their fair share of side effects and drug interactions.
According to a 2014 drug trends report, antipsychotics accounted for 2.3% of the total drug cost for workers’ compensation claims, with a 2.0% increase in the average cost per prescription in 2014 compared to 2013. Not only are these medications expensive, but their misuse is growing.1
In the injury claims we have seen at Sedgwick, these drugs are not always prescribed by a psychiatrist or a behavioral health expert, and patients often do not receive follow-up by a multi-disciplinary team. Antipsychotics are usually prescribed by primary care physicians who are not trained in behavioral management and not familiar with the side effects and drug interactions.2 A lot of adverse events are often overlooked and drug interactions are not closely monitored.3 Just recently, Sedgwick’s staff pharmacists were referred to a case in which the primary care provider was prescribing his patient anticonvulsants as mood stabilizers, antidepressants for depression and sleep, and antipsychotics for depression and insomnia. The patient was also being followed by a pain specialist who was prescribing opioids, anxiolytics and stimulants. Additionally, the physicians were not exchanging progress notes and the patient was unaware of the dangerous combination he was taking.
This patient was being prescribed medications to help with the side effects of his other medications. Psychosis was not a documented diagnosis for him, yet he was taking two antipsychotic medications to help with sleep and depression. A psychiatric evaluation was never part of the patient’s progress notes nor was there a risk assessment in the medical record to determine his risk for drug abuse or overdose. After one of Sedgwick’s staff pharmacists spoke with both providers, both of the psychotropic medications were discontinued and the patient was referred to a psychiatrist to help manage his depression and anxiety, which were not related to his workers’ compensation injury.
Antipsychotics are generally not recommended for workers’ compensation injuries. While there is some data to support use for treatment-resistant depression, there is insufficient data to support their use as standalone therapy. The patient population that we help monitor should rarely be on any psychotropic medications, as studies show that the use of these agents in the treatment of workers’ compensation injuries offers little to no benefit in functional improvement or quality of life.4, 5
Based on our experience with these types of cases, the use of antipsychotic medications often does more harm than good for the injured employee. Risk managers must evaluate the behavioral health and prescription drug management components of their claims and healthcare programs. A team of physicians, pharmacists and specially trained clinicians must be systematically connected with the claims administration professionals and their systems in order to address life-threatening situations quickly. Behavioral health and pharmacy solutions prompt prevention of these types of dangerous situations and provide key intervention.
Technology interfaces must be equipped to systematically sound the alarm and the first responders must include a multi-disciplinary team of medical experts. Sedgwick’s pharmacy clinical review program includes point-of-sale interventions managed by our nurses who review medications prior to dispensing. Drug alerts interface with our proprietary claims management system and when an alert is received, our clinical team will confirm it is the correct treatment for the injury, work with the physician to make any necessary prescription changes – and ultimately ensure the injured employee’s safety.
Reema Hammoud
PharmD, BCPS, Director, Clinical Pharmacy
Sedgwick
Sources
*This article was originally published in the edge issue 003