“Off-Label” Prescribing of Antipsychotic Drugs Increases

Policymakers, patient advocates and medical experts are in an uproar over a new trend in the medical world: the massive increase in off-label prescribing of antipsychotic drugs to patients.

According to the Washington Post, the class of antipsychotic drugs that are increasingly being prescribed are called atypical antipsychotics with the most popular being Zyprexa, Seroquel, and Abilify. Primary-care doctors and psychiatrists prescribe these drugs off-label to treat conditions such as attention-deficit disorder, anxiety, sleep difficulties, dementia, and behavioral problems in toddlers.

Atypical antipsychotics account for more than 90 percent of the antipsychotic drug market. Recent reports found that children and adolescents in foster care are prescribed more of these drugs more than children who have the most severe form of mental illness.

If you or a loved one were harmed by an antipsychotic drug or another dangerous drug, contact Sokolove Law for a free legal consultation.

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