Number of kids on anti-psychotic drugs increases dramatically

[buttmunch]

Updated: 7:52 p.m. ET March 16, 2006
Soaring numbers of American children are being prescribed anti-psychotic drugs — in many cases, for attention deficit disorder or other behavioral problems for which these medications have not been proven to work, a study found.

The annual number of children prescribed anti-psychotic drugs jumped fivefold between 1995 and 2002, to an estimated 2.5 million, the study said. That is an increase from 8.6 out of every 1,000 children in the mid-1990s to nearly 40 out of 1,000.

But more than half of the prescriptions were for attention deficit and other non-psychotic conditions, the researchers said.

The findings are worrisome “because it looks like these medications are being used for large numbers of children in a setting where we don’t know if they work,” said lead author Dr. William Cooper, a pediatrician at Vanderbilt Children’s Hospital.

The increasing use of anti-psychotics since the mid-1990s corresponds with the introduction of costly and heavily marketed medications such as Zyprexa and Risperdal. The packaging information for both says their safety and effectiveness in children have not been established.

Anti-psychotics are intended for use against schizophrenia and other psychotic illnesses. However, attention deficit disorder is sometimes accompanied by temper outbursts and other disruptive behavior. As a result, some doctors prescribe anti-psychotics to these children to calm them down — a strategy some doctors and parents say works.

The drugs, which typically cost several dollars per pill, are considered safer than older anti-psychotics — at least in adults — but they still can have serious side effects, including weight gain, elevated cholesterol and diabetes.

Large studies needed
Anecdotal evidence suggests similar side effects occur in children, but large-scale studies of youngsters are needed, Cooper said.

The researchers analyzed data on youngsters age 13 on average who were involved in annual national health surveys. The surveys involved prescriptions given during 119,752 doctor visits. The researchers used that data to come up with national estimates.

Cooper said some of the increases might reflect repeat prescriptions given to the same child, but he said that is unlikely and noted that his findings echo results from smaller studies.

The study appears in the March-April edition of the journal Ambulatory Pediatrics.

Heavy marketing by drug companies probably contributed to the increase in the use of anti-psychotic drugs among children, said Dr. Daniel Safer, a psychiatrist affiliated with Johns Hopkins University, who called the potential side effects a concern.

Safer said a few of his child patients with behavior problems are on the drugs after they were prescribed by other doctors. Safer said he has let these children continue on the drugs, but at low doses, and he also does periodic tests for high cholesterol or warning signs of diabetes.

Dr. David Fassler, a University of Vermont psychiatry professor, said more research is needed before anti-psychotics should be considered standard treatment for attention deficit disorders in children.

“Given the frequency with which these medications are being used, there’s no question that we need additional studies on both safety and efficacy in pediatric populations,” Fassler said.

msnbc.com

I have to say that I think the whole 'drug your kid to solve a problem' trend is the result of lazy parenting and hysteria. I know someone who put thier kid on Ritalin simply because he wasn't performing as well as she wanted at school. She just went to the doctor, told her what she wanted and the doc wrote the prescription.

Alot of kids don't fit in to the 'normal' mode, which is impossible to define in the first place. I also think that if you drug the kid, the kid never deals with whatever minor problems he/she might have (and no, I'm not talking about truly sick kids who really need help). Also, I think the drugs stamp out individuality and all those little quirks that make each of us unique. Little Johnny might not pay attention in class very well, but maybe he's writing a novel in his head. Many of the great thinkers, artists, etc through out time were not 'normal' kids. Imagine if they'd all been 'diagnosed' and then had all that uniqueness stolen away.

[Sojiita]

Why anti-psychotics? Everything listed about Zyprexa is for serious mental illnesses like bi-polar disorder or Schizophrenia..there was no mention about ADD or anything like that. Prescribing that shit for kids who "act out" is ridiculous and seems very wrong. Hell 'acting out" is what adolescence is all about!

[Grimmlok]

Doctor's aren't doctors anymore, they don't try and diagnose anything. You just tell them symptoms and they give you pills and shove you out the door as fast as possible.

They get paid by how many pills they push by big pharma.

[GawsipRawksz]

drug dealers!

[buttmunch]

Quote:
Originally Posted by buttmunch
I have to say that I think the whole 'drug your kid to solve a problem' trend is the result of lazy parenting and hysteria. I know someone who put thier kid on Ritalin simply because he wasn't performing as well as she wanted at school. She just went to the doctor, told her what she wanted and the doc wrote the prescription.

Alot of kids don't fit in to the 'normal' mode, which is impossible to define in the first place. I also think that if you drug the kid, the kid never deals with whatever minor problems he/she might have (and no, I'm not talking about truly sick kids who really need help). Also, I think the drugs stamp out individuality and all those little quirks that make each of us unique. Little Johnny might not pay attention in class very well, but maybe he's writing a novel in his head. Many of the great thinkers, artists, etc through out time were not 'normal' kids. Imagine if they'd all been 'diagnosed' and then had all that uniqueness stolen away.


Tom?

Shit! You found me out, Mushy! Take vitamins, kids and you'll be fine in no time at all!

Doctor's aren't doctors anymore, they don't try and diagnose anything. You just tell them symptoms and they give you pills and shove you out the door as fast as possible.

They get paid by how many pills they push by big pharma.

Of course they're in the pockets of the big pharm companies. Did you see how much EACH PILL costs? Those babies are good little earners.