Impact of continuation of antipsychotic medications and benzodiazepines after critical care discharge.

BACKGROUND

Survivors of critical illness are often started on antipsychotics and/or benzodiazepines in the intensive care unit (ICU) and continued on discharge.

OBJECTIVE

Systematic review of the evidence regarding impact of continuation of antipsychotic medications and benzodiazepines after ICU discharge.

DATA SOURCES: Ovid MEDLINE; Ovid Emcare; APA PsycInfo; Scopus; CINAHL were searched for publications about adult ICU survivors discharged from the ICU with a new prescription of either an antipsychotic and/or benzodiazepine.

CONCLUSIONS

Discharge with a new prescription of antipsychotic and/or benzodiazepines can cause QT prolongation and is associated with an increased readmission and mortality and does not improve long-term outcomes.

IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: Nurse practitioners should reevaluate the use of antipsychotics and/or benzodiazepines in the ICU and avoid discharging ICU survivors with a new prescription.