-June 6, 2006
New research shows that the number of antipsychotic drugs prescribed to children has increased six-fold in the last decade. This drastic increase in antipsychotic drug use among children is extremely concerning to many experts, since little research exists to support the efficacy of these medications in the treatment of children’s behavioral and mental health conditions, for which these drugs are currently prescribed.
The drastic increase in antipsychotic prescriptions for children appears to be for conditions that do NOT have a psychotic component, such as behavioral and mood disorders. While this off-label prescribing practice is technically legal, the FDA and other health experts frown upon it .
Psychosis is a condition whereby a person can no longer distinguish between reality and the imaginary world, often marked by symptoms of hallucinations and delusions. Antipsychotic drugs, such as Zyprexa ,Seroquel ,and Risperdal , are used to treat such psychotic conditions as schizophrenia, certain personality disorders, and dementia. These drugs are known to increase the risk of serious side effects including weight gain, diabetes, heart arrhythmias, and more.
The recent research, conducted by Dr. Mark Olfson and his team at the Columbia University College of Physicians & Surgeons, shows that the increase in antipsychotic prescriptions for children are for unapproved uses . In fact, 38 percent of these drugs are being prescribed for behavioral disorders and 32 percent for mood disorders. That would mean that approximately 70 percent of all prescriptions for children are for off-label uses . This practice is a great cause for concern, says the research team.
“Whenever the practice gets out in front of the science, there’s reason for concern,” explains Dr. Olfson. Antipsychotic drugs are being prescribes for uses that have not been adequately studied and have not been approved by the FDA.
The researchers estimate that in 1993, approximately 201,000 people aged 20 or younger received antipsychotic drug prescriptions through a doctor’s visit. In 2002, that number soared to 1.2 million children receiving antipsychotic prescriptions.
Another expert, Dr. William Cooper of Vanderbilt Children’s Hospital, says it is unclear how these drugs will affect children. “For things like attention-deficit disorder, depression, and bipolar disorder, the bottom line is we don’t know whether they work for those conditions in children, and we don’t know what side effects they have in kids ,” he explains.
Some doctors feel they have little-to-no options when treating children with serious behavioral issues. However, they are currently relying on medical guesses as to what might help and they could be putting children at risk for serious drug side effects.
For more information on drug safety concerns, please contact us.
More Recent Defective Drug News
