Impact of second-generation antipsychotics on the use of antiparkinson agents in nursing homes and assisted-living facilities.

Background: It is not known whether the reduced risk of motor adverse effects with second-generation antipsychotics (SGAPs) translates into less use of antiparkinson drugs (APDs).

Objective: This study sought to estimate national rates of concomitant prescribing of APDs and antipsychotic drugs among elderly Medicare beneficiaries without Parkinson's disease (PD) who were residing in institutional settings from 1997 to 2000, a period during which the use of SGAPs increased greatly.

Methods: This was a retrospective, cross-sectional, descriptive analysis using the Medicare Current Beneficiary Survey database.