What is STOMP?
STOMP stands for Stopping Over Medication of People with a learning disability, autism, or both with psychotropic medicines. The overall goal is to help people stay well and improve their quality of life.
What are Psychotropic medicines?
Psychotropic medicines affect how the brain works and include medicines for psychosis, depression, anxiety, sleep problems and epilepsy. At times they are also given to people because their behaviour is seen as challenging.
People with a learning disability and/or autistic people are more likely to be given these medicines when compared to others. Although these medicines are right for some people and can help them stay safe and well, sometimes there are other ways of helping which involve less medicine or none at all.
Public Health England says that every day about 30,000 to 35,00 adults with a learning disability are taking psychotropic medicines, when they do not have the health conditions the medicines are for.
What are the side effects?
Psychotropic medicines can cause problems if people take them for too long. Or take too high a dose. Or take them for the wrong reason. This can cause side effects like:
- Putting on weight
- Feeling tired or ‘drugged up’
- Serious problems with physical health
Hertfordshire County Council
HCC have s STOMP team who are working with GP’s across the county to support reductions of medication for people with a learning disability who do not need them.
If you would like to speak to the STOMP nurses in the learning disability nursing service in HCC, please e-mail Jessica.shingler@hertfordshire.gov.uk
Useful Resources
| NHS STOMP information and guidance | Click here |
|---|---|
| NHS STOMP Easy Read | Click here |