Antipsychotic Drug Use Growing in Kids

A new study shows that nearly one in three of all visits kids and teens make to psychiatrists resulted in a doctor prescribing an antipsychotic drug—such as Zyprexa, Seroquel, and Abilify.

Researchers found that for kids and teens, about 90 percent of the antipsychotic prescriptions written during office visits between 2005 and 2009 were “off-label,” meaning the drugs were being prescribed for uses other than what they were approved for, according to Reuters.

The results of this study show an increase from the last one in the 1990s that found antipsychotic drugs were prescribed for one in every eleven kids and teens. Researchers say that much of the increase is from doctors prescribing the drugs for disruptive behaviors such as attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), according to Reuters.

The authors of the study - wich was published in the Archives of General Psychiatry - noted that even though they cannot prove that the prescribed antipsychotics were unnecessary, the effectiveness of these types of drugs for disorders similar to ADHD is unclear.

The drugs have been associated with diabetes and weight gain.

If you or a loved one has been harmed by a dangerous drug, contact Sokolove Law for a free legal consultation and to find out if a dangerous drug lawyer may be able to help you. For legal help, call (800) 581-6358.

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