Health and medicine writer for Postmedia News, Sharon Kirkey recently published a story regarding the increase of the prescribing of antipsychotic drugs for children.
SGAs have proven useful in the treatment of schizophrenia and related disorders, Juurlink said. But the pills are also increasingly being given to children for attention deficit/hyperactivity disorders, “conduct” disorders and “frustration intolerance.” The drugs are also being prescribed for insomnia. “To use them for sleep borders on malpractice,” Juurlink says.
In Canada, use of the drugs in children is growing dramatically, increasing 114 per cent from 2005 to 2009. In 2007, 12 per cent of all SGA prescriptions were for children aged eight and under, mostly for behavioural problems.
In addition to seeing an increase of antipsychotic medication being used for purposes not intended and being given to very young children, Kirkey also points out that there is very little monitoring once the prescription is written.
The drugs are “major medications” that require close follow-up. But there are concerns children are being put on the drugs and then not seen again for another four to six months.
Finally, several serious side effects exist with these medications:
But there are concerns that parents are not being warned about the possible dangers, including sudden and dramatic weight gain, diabetes and a 30-fold higher risk of metabolic syndrome, a cluster of conditions that increase the risk of heart disease and stroke.
Health Canada has also received 17 fatal reports in children related to SGAs.
Read “Experts urge tighter controls on use of antipsychotics” for the entire story.