OBJECTIVES: The majority of antipsychotic use in the elderly is to treat behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia. New information on the safety of antipsychotics in the elderly was released between 2000 and 2005. This analysis provides insight into antipsychotic use among seniors during this time period.   METHODS: Claims level data from the National Prescription Drug Utilization Information System (NPDUIS) Database were analyzed for seniors on public drug programs in six Canadian provinces between 2001-2002 and 2006-2007.  This analysis looked at trends in antipsychotic use, including use by age and sex. Additional analyses focused on atypical antipsychotics, including use and average daily dose by chemical, use in community and long-term care settings, as well as use among seniors with and without claims for anti-dementia drugs. RESULTS: The rate of antipsychotic use among seniors in all provinces grew from 4.3% in 2001-2002 to 5.0% in 2006-2007.  The rate of growth of antipsychotic use slowed during the study period from an average of 5.2% per year between 2001-2002 to 1.0% between 2003-2004 and 2006-2007. Antipsychotic use was highest among females and seniors 85 and older. There was a continued shift to the use of atypical agents from typical agents over the study period. In 2006–2007, 37.7% of senior nursing home residents in three provinces had claims for atypical antipsychotics, compared to only 2.6% of seniors living in the community. When looking at only seniors with claims for anti-dementia drugs, use of atypical antipsychotics was higher among nursing home residents. CONCLUSIONS: This analysis provides insight into antipsychotic use among seniors. Antipsychotic use increased throughout the study period, although its rate of growth declined following the release of the new safety information. The rate of atypical antipsychotic use was higher in seniors living in nursing homes and in those taking anti-dementia drugs.