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Children and antipsychotic medications
Dr. P's Pediatric Journal Club
The study
The researchers extracted data from a national survey of doctors' office visits during 1993-2002, looking for the use of "antipsychotic medications" in children and adolescents (under the age of 21 years).
What the study found
- 18% of visits to a psychiatrist resulted in a prescription for an antipsychotic medication.
- In 1993, 201,000 prescriptions for antipsychotic medications were written for children under 21 years of age. In 2002, 1,224,000 prescriptions were written.
- This adds up to about 14 per 1,000 children and adolescents receiving these medications ( compared to about 2.75 per 1,000 in 1993), about a five-fold increase.
- These meds were mainly prescribed for Disruptive Disorders (38%), Mood Disorders (such as childhood bipolar in 32%), Pervasive Developmental Disorders or Autism Spectrum or Mental Retardation (17%), and Psychotic Disorders (14%)
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Dr. P comments
The plot thickens in this highly debated area of the psychiatric care of our children.
I've blogged before about the increase in ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) and antidepressant medications over the past 15 years (neither of which I'm going to discuss again here). So it comes as no surprise that the newer generation of 'atypical' antipsychotic medications (such as Risperdal, Clozaril, Zyprexa, Seroquel, Abilify **) are being used with increasing frequency in the younger age groups.
So (you appropriately ask), is this a worrisome trend or is this good news?
The potentially worrisome part:
- While safer in most cases than the older antipsychotic medications (such as Haldol, Mellaril, Thorazine), these meds are not without side effects. Significant weight gain and elevation of fat in the blood, at the very least, are quite common.
- Since these medications are relatively new on the scene, their long-term use has not been well-studied, especially when started in childhood. Could there be unexpected side effects (negative or positive) that will show up in a decade or two?
- "If all you have is a hammer, everything looks like a nail." There is no question these medications can be very beneficial for some children. But might their effectiveness and relative safety short-circuit attempts to first try to solve behavior/psychiatric problems with slower and more labor-intensive environmental interventions? Are we too quick to default to medications as the first line of treatment? Could this trend reflect an easy way out for a society facing a critical shortage of mental health professionals for children?
The positive side:
- There are an increasing number of studies and lots of clinical experience showing these medications often really help some children (especially childhood bipolar disorder and disruptive disorders in children with developmental disabilities).
- So far, aside for the weight gain and elevation of fat levels, the medications are usually well tolerated and appear to be reasonably safe.
- While imperfect, these medications do represent an important advance in treatment for many children. Over time, even safer and more effective medications are going to emerge.
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A case from Dr. P's clinic
Try to put aside your opinions for a second and let me present to you a case from my own practice. I'll tell you what I have done, then you can decide if you agree with it or not.
When I first met him 3 years ago, Billy (not his real name) was an exceptionally hyperactive two and a half year old. Even more remarkable, he would occasionally go for 72 hours without any sleep! He was bright, cute, but could be very aggressive and unmanageable. His intense tantrums could last for hours. Babysitters refused to care for him more than once. He was expelled from his day care. As you might guess, life with Billy was incredibly difficult.
Despite being unsure of his diagnosis, I decided - at the tender age of 3 years - to start ADHD stimulant medications + a medication for sleep. These did help for about a year or so, but began to lose effectiveness when he was four.
Because of his extreme symptoms and a positive family history, I had always been suspicious that Billy was manifesting, at an unusually young age, symptoms of Childhood Bipolar Disorder. So, reluctantly, I started Risperdal (one of the newer antipsychotic medications).
His mom described the difference as 'miraculous'. Billy's hyperactivity, aggressiveness, and disruptive behaviors became quite manageable. Now he loves to go to preschool where, instead of being constantly punished and berated for his misdeeds, he proudly reports his many successes. His learning is at age-level. Baby sitters are now happy to give mom a break. He's gained a lot of weight but otherwise seems a healthy and much happier little boy.
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So, was I right to start an antipsychotic medication in a boy who is only four years old? What were/are the risks of using - or of not using - the medication?
Frankly, I struggle with these questions every time the issue of using psychiatric medications comes up (which is more and more often!). I don't see any easy, pat answer to the good news/bad news question. For better or for worse, I take it case by case and weigh the pros and cons as best I can.
Anyway, I hope I've at least highlighted for you the complexity and importance of what is at stake. This is an issue and a debate only likely to grow in intensity and importance over the next years. Your thoughts?
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Article cited:
Archives of General Psychiatry, June 2006
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** I'm using the trade names for these medications, instead of the actual drug names, since these are names most people know them by and since you can't get generic brands for them as yet anyway.
Related Topics: Bipolar Disorder: Recognize the Symptoms, Bipolar Youths May Misread Faces
Update: Welcome Pediatric Grand Rounds readers!
Technorati Tags: antipsychotic medication, pediatrics, childhood bipolar disorder, ADHD, depression
44 Comments:
Thoughts?
You chemically tamed this boy, and you made him fat. And you're pleased with this outcome?
I'm appalled.
Flea
Flea seems a little judgemental---It seemed to me that Dr. Parker offered a measured and thoughtful approach to a very complex dilemma---as a nonprescribing psychotherapist, I have seen both the judicious and non-judicious use of medication in children, and I see Dr. Parker as clearly an example of the former--Would that all prescribers were as considered---
Dr. Flea and Dr. Parker:
My response to both of your blogs on this topic can be found here.
I voice a great concern over why you did not refer this case out to a pediatric psychiatrist. I don't agree with anonymous that a "thoughtful and measured approach" was done here. Frankly, I too am appalled. A specialist should have been involved.
I have a six year old boy with moderate autism. The Risperdal has been the only thing that consistently helped. Unfortunately, he would need to take more if he is also on ADHD drugs, and because he is much bigger than he was at the age of three. His Dr. was willing to try Buspar with the Risperdal. I used 10 mg. three times a day for the Buspar to help. I was able to decrease the amount of Risperdal he was taking by half. Although I worry about long term side effects from Risperdal, the situation is so dire without it that he would not be living at home. He has been in a specialized Autism program through the public school system since he was three. That has also helped enormously, but he also needs the meds. In defense of a pediatrician prescribing the Risperdal, some people are not lucky enough to have access to a specialist for various reasons. Our specialist does not accept childrens' medicaid based All Kids insurance (Illinois), even though it is allowed for kids over the poverty line. One of the other three pediatric neurologist in the area does not accept insurance at all. Fortunately for us, my son is insured under the plan that comes after COBRA, or a well-paying job without insurance would disqualify him for ANY insurance. As soon as one of us has a job with insurance, he will be disqualified no matter what kind of insurance a new company will provide. Small companies and contract work are what well educated and fifty year old parents can get. So, many people need the regular pediatrician to prescribe these types of meds.
To Dr. Serani--
As a colleague of Dr. Parker's, I can attest to the fact that he regularly gets psychiatric consultation on complex cases---He also has considerable experience with behavioral difficulties, is a thoughtful diagnostician and at times is the provider families feel safest to have prescribe for their children----he does not engage in diagnostic guess-work, nor does he shy from making appropriate referrals to other professionals---
I have worked in Doctors offices for 15yrs now and some children/Teenagers act out sxs to get medications to get high off or sale them so I am not crazy about giving kids antipsychotic meds because not all Doctors keep up with the patient progress and who's to say just like all other drug taken off the market the damage it may cause. But the question is hard when you have a young child that needs help to continue a normal life. The antipsychotic medications in my opinion are fine if all doctors were as causions as you.
I took zyprexa which was ineffective for my condition and gave me diabetes.
Zyprexa, which is used for the treatment of psychiatric disorders, such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, accounted for 32% of Eli Lilly's $14.6 billion revenue last year.
Zyprexa is the product name for Olanzapine,it is Lilly's top selling drug.It was approved by the FDA in 1996 ,an 'atypical' antipsychotic a newer class of drugs without the motor side effects of the older Thorazine.Zyprexa has been linked to causing diabetes and pancreatitis.
Did you know that Lilly made nearly $3 billion last year on diabetic meds, Actos,Humulin and Byetta?
Yes! They sell a drug that can cause diabetes and then turn a profit on the drugs that treat the condition that they may have caused in the first place!
I was prescribed Zyprexa from 1996 until 2000.
In early 2000 i was shocked to have an A1C test result of 13.9 (normal is 4-6) I have no history of diabetes in my family.
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Daniel Haszard http://www.zyprexa-victims.com
Sometimes medication works and sometimes it doesn't.
My six year-old with moderate autism was having trouble sleeping and having minor behavioral issues. We tried Risperdal. For a while it worked great. He began sleeping 7-8 hours a night (up from 2-10 hours and very erratically) and his behavioral problems improved. At that point it was a godsend.
But now, about 6 months in, his behavioral problems are much worse with no other apparent changes. And the sleep effects are starting to wear off.
So we are trying to figure out whether to take him off it and try something else, increase it, or add a different medication.
The point is that while medications can be useful, I believe we should be looking for a different long-term answer. In my son's case possibly something to cause the underdeveloped portions of his brain to develop.
Hi, You can think of me as anonymous # 17. I only wanted to state, for clarification purposes, that I wrote the respose about the 6 year-old with moderate autism for whom Risperdal seemed to work at first and then seemed to lose effectiveness.
If it makes a difference to anyone's search for and analysis of information, I am a different person from the other anonymous with a 6 year old with moderate autism. My son does not, that I know of, have adhd.
Good luck to everyone.
As a grandparent of a 5 year old boy who has had behavior problems, I see both sides of this coin. The bad side is that while Brent is being treated with Geodon AND Seroquel his little body is being abused with drugs so powerful that even the manufacturer says NOT for pediatric use. Brent gets 320MGS of Geodon and is going to be taking a "low-dose" of seroquel. Luckily for him he has the father's girlfriend watching out for his health...I am being facetous here, while the father turns everything that has to do with brent's care over to her. So, she would like the kid out of the picture...WAY OUT of the picture, and she has found a quack that will let his PA prescribe whatever medicines the GF can dream up. Let's see, how long do we think it will take for his little heart to stop? I once had such faith in the medical community...now I think they are all idiots.
Drug em up and make the parents happy. Great medicine..Hippocrates would be proud.
Anonymous # whatever
To all of these people that are appalled-- I have a few thoughts for you-- I am a single mother of an eight year old little girl who was just diagnosed last summer with schizophrenia. I have had behavioral problems with her and been to therapists since the tender age of 3. When she got to the age of 5 and very out of control I went from different phychiatrists that didn't want to try different medications to see if they would help her. I was being labeled as "a mother that is dramatic and exagerates things." Her first encounter into a phsych ward was at 6 and 1/2 years old. She was steady getting worse and they started understanding what I was talking about. I met her doctor now currently thru the Physch ward where she spent her whole summer. He started her on a course of medication trials , nothing really working as well as I expected-- but helping a little. Last summer when I brought her to the psych ward for the 2nd time in a year-- she didn't know who I was and was talking in a mumbo jumbo, that is when they finally diagnosed her and put her on clozaril. She spent 3 months in the hospital and now she is almost a normal child again. With little kids it is hard -- a lot of doctor's don't want to think that a child this young is that mentally sick. They are not used to seeing a child this young so mentally distraught. Clozaril is a big drug for an 8 year old. I am glad her doctor agreed to take the chance and try it with her, otherwise I would still to this day be living with a child that might try and take a butcher knife to me while I am sleeping. Sometimes with a child you have to take risks-- and I would rather have my child a little overweight and able to comprehend the world around her. So don't knock a doctor for trying something that is not normally done with a child-- sometimes there is no other choice!
I have an eight year old boy who was misdiagnosed for a couple of years starting at age three. We went through a series of doctors and meds until we finally found the pediatric psychiatrist that we have had now for about 2 or 3 years. He is very cautious however willing to try different things for the benefit of my child. After much trial and error, we now use a combination of Concerta and Risperdal both in small proportions. My son is happy, and functioning well in school and has gained some weight, but is not overweight according to the pediatrician. Without this our life was spiraling out of control. My now 10 year old daughter was starting to act out because my son was so disruptive all of the time, she just was loosing it. Now, I'm happy to report, we are all on an even keel. I don't think anyone should knock meds until they've walked in our shoes or lived in our skin. On the flip side, I do have concerns with the long term effects of these meds on their little organs. I am currently researching as much as possible about this.
Tracy
My 10 year old son, with Down's started the Risperdal for behavior issues that appear to be realted to anxiety and it work well for 4 weeks. Now he is worse than ever. We will not be able to keep him in a phase 2 room for long at this rate. He gained 10 pounds in 1 month.
I have a daughter that is 14 years old and had issues in the past with behavorial problems, not major ones ! As well she had problems with sleeping at night so therefore she would fall asleep in class. Well needless to say this did not go over too well with teachers. After seeing a psychiatrist and going through various medications that just did not work for her, her Doctor put her on Seroquel. This medication in particular was given to her to help her sleep at night. She has been on the medication for around 5+ years The medication did help her sleep , thats a given fact, but as a parent I was ignorant to the fact that this medication was not approved by the FDA for the use in children. So here we are several years down the road and at the age of 14 years old my daughter has Type 2 Diabetes. As her mother I feel as though it is my fault that I did not know any better than to allow this antipsychotic medication to be perscribed to her and now she will have to live with this disease for the rest of her natural life. So all I can say is ask questions from the Psychiatrist prior to giving your child medications. YOU are the parent , yes they are Doctors , but this does not make one Doctor right about everything. If I could go back and do it all over and know what I know this day I would have NEVER given my child this medication.
Just a Mothers opinion !!
My ex-daughter-in-law just had my 2-year-old granddaughter started on antipsychotic medication. No one but my ex-DIL sees any problems with this child. Of course, she is the only one who takes her to doctors, etc., so they only hear her side of the story. She describes my granddaughter as an anxiety-ridden, uncontrolable, unmanageable child -- which none of us have witnessed (and yes I have my granddaughter overnight very often). My ex-DIL is a control freak. She cannot control her child so she wants to make her into a zombie. I agree with flea ... she will turn her into a tamed, fat child. But then she'll probably get upset with her for being fat -- the child can't win with her mother. That is already evident at the young age of 2. My question is, what can a grandmother do about this? My son and his ex know how I feel about this but my opinion doesn't count with them. What kind of doctor would put a two year old on antipsychotic meds??? I agree with the comment-maker who said she has lost all faith in the medical community!
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I am fearful that my 9 yr old step daughter will develop an irreversible side effect from this drug. Unfortunately, we are also in a situation where her mother is the only person who is currently taking her to the doctor (she conveniently "forgets" to tell us about the appt). The world is over-medicating and under parenting!
I have a 3 year old daughter with anger problems. She is hyperactive too. There is a councelor that comes to my house for about a hour each week to watch over her to see how she is doing. I just put her on Adderal 5 mg in the morning and that was helping, but I also have a 2 month old that she was telling me that she wanted to hurt and you would ask her why and she would say "because I can" so I got scarred and called the dr back. She would also wake up at 2-3 am and scream and through her toys. Iw was scared that she would end up hurting herself so the dr also put her on Risperdal .25 ml in morning and night. It seems to be helping but her father is telling me that I am doing the wrong thing because it could hurt her. Do you think that I am doing the right thing? Please help me!
I am a single mother of a 6yr. old and an 11yr. old, my oldest son was on Risperdal for about 5 years, then we switched him to
Geodon for about 15 months, he is now medication free, and doing well, he had extremely violent outbursts, breaking windows, throwing chairs etc. the meds helped control his behavior enough so that he was able to learn. I thought I was a pro at this behavior, so I did'nt want to put my youngest son on medication, not because I didn't think it would work, just because so many people have such negative things to say about it, but recently he was getting kicked out of school for his violent outbursts, he threw a chair and hit another child, he was kicked out of after school daycare for kicking the daycare provider, I tried to get him help from the school, basically they told me there is not help for children like him that don't have a learning disability. My son has been on Geodon now for about a week, and I am noticing a difference in his behavior. Please don't judge unless you have walked in our shoes. I beleive that it is genetics, and more studies should be done on it.
The poster above said, "Please don't judge unless you have walked in our shoes. I beleive that it is genetics, and more studies should be done on it."
If you'd read my post, right above it (the one with all the links), you'd see a link to where people are studying it, and it's not genes, it's actually nutrition, and, yes, I have walked in your shoes. The more research is done, the more scientists are realizing that it's actually the foods we eat and our general lifestyle that is causing these problems. Genetics has very little to do with it, and plenty of "disorders" are nothing more than a part of one's personality.
For example, everyone is my family is depressed, including me. I battled with suicide for six years (without meds, by the way), and finally learned how to fix it myself. I've been depressed for as long as I can remember, and it seems to worsen with age, although the teenage years were worse. Do I have an unproven chemical imbalance, or a melancholy personality? I'm all for a melancholy personality, and I wouldn't change it because I learned how to draw creative energy from it. There might be a genetic predisposition for it, but most people in my family also have INFP personality types, and they are naturally depressed day-dreamers. Over half of the people diagnosed with either depression, ADD/ADHD, or both are INFP. Correlation, maybe?
If you would like another link to look at, I highly recommend Genova Diagnostics, for they also research how nutrition affects people and how it is linked to many of today's "mental illnesses."
Forgive me if I'm wrong, but was your son diagnosed as bipolar? If it was, check out this video: Bipolar - Psychology You can find more of Dr. John Breeding's videos in Psychetruth's youtube profile. I should also note that I am not affiliated with any of the videos here, so just a head's up. This isn't my profile, and I've only PM'd this user a few times to discuss how to get my brother off antipsychotics, so I don't always know what kind of videos you'll find.
My suggestion to you, even if it's not bipolar, would be to seek out an alternative medicine practitioner. Many times this is more effective than by sticking your kid on a drug that could permanently damage him.
Also, please take the time to read my entire post above, and I even more strongly encourage you to check out the links I posted.
I apologize if I came off as harsh in my earlier post, but this isn't trivial stuff! In many ways we are placing our children's futures and even their physical and mental well-beings in our hands and also in the hands of a society that wants docile, easy-to-manage kids. I do not doubt the severity of your problem - my family went through much of the same thing. It's hard, but there are many ways to fight it, and many of them do not involve drugs.
If you want, here's John Breeding's Website where you can email him if you wish. He might be able to give you further advice.
What kind of doctor would put a two year old on antipsychotic meds???
It's a money-making thing. Since the early 90s, even toddlers get put on powerful "medicines." This is because pharmaceutical companies push for it. They get thousands of money per child on drugs, and all it takes is a complaining parent and nod from a "doctor." Never mind that these drugs aren't even approved for children that young, and never mind that there's absolutely no one monitoring it.
See http://www.lawyersandsettlements.com/articles/antipsychotics and talk to someone you trust.
Sorry, but it's not nutrition. At least, it wasn't for us.
That's the danger when you are 'anti' anything. You make blanket statements that actually place others at risk. Some kids have ADHD. Some don't. Some kids are bipolar. Some aren't. Some respond to medication. Some don't. Some respond to nutritional changes. Others don't.
My point is that you cannot say with certainty that it is nutrition any more than I can say it's genetic. Regardless of what view you take, it involves products so let's not make it all about the pharmas, okay?
Did you have a blood test or some other medical work to ensure that it wasn't a nutrient-based something?
Anyway, I didn't say that I think it is all nutrient-based for certain, but I'm saying that there is evidence for it whereas there is no evidence whatsoever for the chemical imbalance or genetics.
I am quite aware of that, as I was a psychology major for a long time before I saw all the harm it causes and decided to warn others before they decide on medication. Did you read any of the links? I strongly recommend The Case Against Antipsychotics: 50 Year of doing more Harm than Good, which is in a post of mine above.
Before you write me off as making blanket statements, as I said, I was actually studying to go into the profession of psychology before I became antipsychiatry.
Basically, what it comes down to, if a doctor told you that you had a disorder that could be treated by smoking marijuana, would you still do it, knowing the dangers of it? Marijuana is a sedative, like many drugs. It could help mask the symptoms, but would you do it?
I didn't rush into antipsychiatry - I gave it a considerable chance, partly for the sake of my family. You should give alternative medicine a considerable chance as well. Who knows, you might be surprised!
Anyway, I wasn't looking for an argument (although a good debate is healthy), I was just posting some advice and laying the information out on the table. Whether you take it or not (or even look at it) is entirely up to you.
I have been takeing Seroquel for 2 months now and was taking 100 mg.. I had samples of 50 mg but was percribed 100 mg so needed o take 2 50 mg at night. The meds work and helped me sleep so I tried to take 50 mg to see if that help so I wouldn't have to take a higher dose of it. 50 mg was helping me. So I told me doctor, he redid my percribtion to 50 g for 1 at bedtime. now it has been almost 2 months later and I have bad nightmare and cold swaets at night. Everytime my boyfriend touchs me to hold me at night I start going crazy on him and yelling and cursing him out as he describes me. I don't reilize or notice till he tells me in the morning. The medication is messing with my head. Is this normal or what? I don't understand how I can do that and not remember and why am I still having bad bad dreams.
I have a child that was diagnosed bipolar at an early age. He was first hospitalized at age 4 after only seeing the psychiatrist 1 time. He did not sleep for days and was extremely violent. From the time he was 18 months old, these behaviors were much above and beyond the terrible 2's. I kept thinking that I was a terrible parent and that I should be able to manage my child. Well, I'm not. My child is now on a cocktail of drugs. Nothing ever completely slows him down. If he didn't have these medications, he would not be able to function on a daily basis. We would be confined at home or he would be institutionalized. I worry all of the time about his health and the long term effect of these drugs. However, no one can understand what parents go through on a daily basis. I am educated and read everything I can get my hands on regarding his disease. I never wanted my child to be labled, but if that's what it takes to have him treated, then I will do whatever it takes. I have been lucky to have a good job with decent insurance. If I had to give everything up to make my child better, I would do it. Literally, I would sleep in a tent if I knew that could cure him. You do have to walk in someone else's shoes to completely understand this. It took even my own family several years to understand the magnitude of his problems.
Beware of Risperdal. It is suspected that it causes diabetes in children. In my case I feel that is what led to my son's diabetes.
Does anyone know of a connection between Seroquel and Pancreatitis? rejwlj@hotmail.com
my son was put on Risperdal. he is five and has been labeled with manythings including adhd odd bipoplar and now an attachment disorder I think these doctors do not know what they are talking about and cannot make up there minds my main concern with the Risperdal.is the weight gain and ast time he was on it he started showing sighns of diabetes so i do not know what to think i have heard it is better for him than the geodon pardon spelling
My son has been diagnosed ADHD with extreme hyperactivity and oppositional behavior. We have a family history of bipolar disorder. Our psychiatrist will not look at the bipolar and instead prescribed what is now the third of Matthew's ADHD medicines, Adderall. The Adderall works great and getting him to calm down and concentrate at school, but he was still not sleeping and was very aggressive. The psychiatrist prescribed Risperdal, which helped the sleeping issue but has had no impact on the aggression. The doctor doubled the Risperdal dose this month and instead of getting less aggressive he has actually had more violent outbursts. Today, he hurt another child at the daycare so badly that the mother called the police on my son! What are we supposed to do? Stand back and watch my son become another statistic or try to find some medical recourse to help him?
I have a 12 year old boy that lived with his father untill recently and he couldn't handle him so he gave him away to the state. I tried too get the boy help a long time ago when he was little but,his father did not believe in it. I am know trying to get custody of him and find him help. He was on manic depressive drugs before but, the father does not believe in it. I know he has problems. I think what you did for this little boy was a good one it helped and he is doing better and,that is what i am looking to do for my son as soon as i get him from the state. I know in my heart he needs help and i am goona do what ever i can to help my little boy. Thank you for listening
As a mother of an incredible, sweet 8 year old son who was recently diagnosed with mood disorder-not otherwise specified and intermittent explosive disorder, let me share my thoughts. First of all, if you are not a parent of a child who is making your life a miserable HELL, you should not judge me or my son's pschyciatrist for prescribing him a drug who has made a tremendous difference in my son. My son was kicked out of daycare at age 2 and has been thru hell for over 6 years because of wrong diagnosis and wrong medicines. Only after being started on Vyvanse and he pulled a knife on his two grandmother's did I have to hospitalize him. That was the best thing that happened because he was observed and started on the RIGHT medicines. He was started on risperdal and depakote er. Yes, he has gained some weight be we are trying to manage that and I will keep his health in check by taking him to his pediatrician and getting the necessary tests to make sure his heart and kidneys/liver is functioning properly. Hopefully, he will grow out of this in a few years, only GOD knows what the future holds, and that is who I am leaving it up to. All I know is that I have a sweet boy who is happy with himself unlike these past few years. Kids do not ask to get in trouble over and over and over again. They want to be good-they just can't help it. I am going to leave with this question: If your son had diabetes, would you deny him the drugs to treat that? Or would you deny drugs to treat cancer in your daughter? Mental illness is just an illness like anything else- you just don't see it with a bloodtest like diabetes. Do you believe in God? You can't see him, yet some still BELIEVE he exists.
Another case of the new, sick trend of putting people on unhealthy and unnecessary medications. These medications are not researched enough, nor have been around long. But they have been around long enough to ruin lives. My parents took me to a psychiatrist at fourteen because they thought I was anorexic. I never was. But the "doctor" put me on pills, and for eight years after that, I was going off pills, on pills, and no doctor could figure me out. Why? Because there was nothing wrong with me except that I was on medications that caused harm to my brain and body. What my parents and doctors that I naively trusted cost me makes me sick. I refused to take the pills at first because they made me feel bad, but my dad would literally try to force them down my throat. I'd be punished for sleeping too much while on these drugs that acted as sedatives. I had psychiatrists threaten to put me away permanently if I did not take the medications. I had some even tell me the hallucinations I had only while on their drugs were real, and that I needed to go to confession. One told me I was chosen by God. And I was the crazy one? These "doctors" say they treat the brain, but do they actually study it? No. They do not even know how exactly these medications work. They have NO right to risk misinformed people's sanity and lives. They are not the ones that have to pay the price. There is NO excuse. Whatsoever.
i find most people amazing. they immediately think that we are "schizo" parents who do not want to deal with our children or have not tried any other alternative. Well I am here to tell you that for at least 80% of us.....that is not the case. Personally I have an 8 year old that has been medicated since he was 4. At the point I decided to medicate him was when I saw him (with my own eyes) try to strangle a baby, almost bite plug out of a childs back, with furious anger kick and scratch teachers, and on a mild day show aggression to kids who did not want to play with him to a point of being scary. All of this beginning at the age of 3 1/2
So, I made a choice. Wait until my beautiful son, injured someone to close to death, leave him in our house (always),or do my best to make it so he can be happy, liked and able to look forward to life EVERYDAY! I chose not to have him taken away from his father and I by the authorities-yes I know-silly me!
I am so tired of people waiting until someone is dead or injured before they admit their child has some chemical imbalance or mental disorder. I consider that to be the equivalent of CHILD ABUSE! Get educated, read, ask questions, change doctor if necessary and by all means-do therapy! My son has been on risperdol (from .25mg to
.75mg) and every time we have taken him off he has had psychotic episodes toward other children and dark thoughts toward adults. On the risperdol he is able to show self-control and reasoning. He is able to get along with other kids and enjoy playing outside. HE IS HAPPY! And as far as the medication goes....one day at time!
First and foremost, you might consider what other drugs your children are taking before you start another medicine. The first drug could be the cause of them becoming disruptive in the first place. It could be the side affects from something as simple as Singulair. Or have you read about that? You should always rule out the possibility of side affects of anything they are taking before you prescribe another medication. If the medications are good for your children try taking one of their doses for yourself and see how you feel, let that be your real test. If it affects your moods or makes you feel lowsey there you have your answer. While you are on this site go to the drug tab at the top and type in the medicine you are prescribing for your child and see what other adults are saying. Children cannot assimilate the difference between how they should feel and how a drug makes them feel. Adults can...enough said.
Wow, there's a LOT of negativity and strong emotions all over this page! I'm slightly nervous about posting on here, but please stick wtih me.
Firstly, I am with the "antipsychiatry" crowd, but I'm not coming here to push my opinion on anyone, for your child's health decisions are your own, whether I agree with your methods of "treatment" or not. Science is finally beginning to pull away from that chemical imbalance theory, after much research has concluded that that is simply not the case.
Anyway, my story goes like this: I became suicidally depressed at the age of twelve after battling with severe depression all my life. For over five years, I could think of nothing except for killing myself. I prayed about it, fantasized about it, and had made numerous plans. It was utterly destroying my life. My grades were terrible, my home life was unbearable, and my future was as bleak as it could be. Death, I thought, was the only way to end it.
However, one day I decided I had to pull myself out of it. Major changes were occuring in my life that forced me to reevaluate. After professionals had basically declared me a lost case and were constantly threatening me with drugs and hospitalization, I had attempted suicide, thought of little except for suicide, and my case wasn't looking good.
What did I do? Excercised, and I did it a lot. I got into great shape. Writing had also been a great hobby of mine, and I began to write obsessively. Not necessarily about how much life sucked, but of anything I could think of. Stories, struggles, triumphs - anything that caught my attention. Today, I am a much more well-rounded human being. I'm not optimistic, and I have struggles, but I'm lightyears ahead of where I was. I did not take drugs to get here, either. I just had to release myself from that I'm-an-innocent-suffering-from-an-incurable-disorder mentality.
I can see why people find conventional treatment so appealing - it removes a certain amount of responsiblity from oneself and focuses on blaming the brain and treating it. However, the antipsychiatry movement also offers hope. With drugs and mainstream psychiatrists, you can rest assured that your behavior is not your fault, but in the process you become a patient for life, and give up any chance for normalcy in its truest sense.
However, if you got the alternative route, you admit that you're wrong, that maybe things aren't perfect in your family, school, etc. and that may have influenced your behavior, and that's hard. Yet, you have the benefit of knowing that you are NOT a lost cause. You can pull yourself or your child, sibling, etc. out of this mess and bring them to their full potential. Bad behavior can be cured, which is better than life-long treatment.
The point is, don't write off antipsychiatry. It does not deny that people have problems. People have problems all the time! What it does say is that the problem is not biological (until scientifically proven, it's unwise to simply slap the biological label on something no one understands - no science doesn't have an answer for everything), and that when psychitrists slapped the biological label on behavior, drug companies took advantage of it and used it as an excuse to manufacture expensive, life-threatening drugs to treat it. Antipsychiatrists, like myself, seek only to bring back the field to its original purpose - to treat behavioral and emotional problems as a complex issue, probably developed over a period of time or from a certain environment, and not to take the easy get-rich-quick way by saying it can't be helped, releasing the individual of a certain amount of responsibility, and proceeding to administer drugs that have no real benefit - just the ability to shut down normal brian functions by damaging the synapses of the brain.
The use of anti-psychotic medications in children should be outlawed in every state. I believe this because I was misdiagnosed as a child and forcably medicated with Risperdol and Zoloft against my parents will from the time I was 10 until the time I was 15. I have been off of these medications for 8 years, however some of the supposedly minor side-effects of these two drugs have become permanent. Drugs such as these should not be given to people whose bodies are still developing.
I agree and disagree with everyone on here I have walked a mile in some one elses shoes my 9 year old grand son suffers from many things adhd anger sleepless nights you name its in there the best thing i found that helps him is knowing what makes him mad what makes him happy what helps him sit still and working with him one on one to help him over come the things that are going on or a least help him controll what is going on Helping him learn self controll is the best thing i ever done but it takes time and paitents if you don't have that then no medication will help my grandson is on risperdal and i to am searching for something other then drugs to keep on helping him i am sure i will find another way
Well here goes I have a beautiful son named logan, When logan was born he was like most babies happy sweet, playful and plump. At 3 months old he developed what the doctors called colic. So I like most parrents spent many nights walking him and rocking him, He would also Spew breast milk from one side of the living room to the other. So I took him back to the doctor. Little logan kept having to go back to the doctors at 5/6/7/8/9/10/11/12 months and still Colic allergy to milk, yeast,beef, soy ect.ect. Of course no tests were done to prove this just doctors saying it. Later It became I was a parinoid mother and doctors rolled there eyes at me and told me if I wasnt so stressed he wouldnt be. Wow its amazing how his 2year old brother at the time survived and only ever had to go to routine check ups and was never sick. All of the sudden becouse he was the secound child I was a nut. So he never gained much weight was in the negative percentiles and I being a big woman myself and 5'9 and his dad being the shortest member of his family at 6'4 we were told not to worry some kids are just small... YEAH Right I kept asking the doctors how genetically that was possible.. Of course no answers... So eventually the contstant crying turned to emotional instability, anger, frustration and another weird trait some days Logan didnt feel any pain. you could beat that child and he never felt a thing. He fell off a table and Twisted his arm completely around and almost broke it it swelled to 3x the size and never a tear.... At the age of 4 after he developed debilitating migraines with light sensativity that would last for days we were sent to a Neurologist who diagnosed logan with Sensory Processing Disorder or Sensory Disfunction. and placed him on Risperdol our lives have been amazing ever since Logan used to have a complete melt down if we ever did anything spur of the moment and we couldtn change our plans with out him screaming and crying. now we are able to go places and take him places its amazing . He was in the negative percentile from 3months to 4 years now after a year he is in the 10th Percentile so it obviously doesnt make all kids fat. Of course we cant always blame meds for that it does have something to do with what you eat. I know weird concept... I know risperdol has its risks but for us it is a god sent...
LOGANS,,, MOM
does resperdal have side effects on the reproductive system ...if a child is taking the meds now.. what is the outcome as an adult....i need an answer...
hello to all,
I wanted to write in and say that I agree that it is the right choice that was made. And some times it does seem that it's wrong but you have to do what is right for the child, because it is not far for the child to go threw that from age 4- on.It is a very hard thing to decide for a child so young but now look at him, hes living life happy now instead of being in trouble all the time . By the time he became a teenager he probably want to hurt his self or do something worse. I do have a child with ADHD and Bipolar. And he is on straterra and rispabal. He was just dignosed with bipolar a few weeks ago. He has changed so much. I love seeing him happy and getting along with others but also not always getting trouble.Now he is a better and happier kid. I never wanted to put him on medicine but it got to the point that I didn't know what ealse to do. SO I tried it out and now I got the best outcome from it. My son has been on the strattera for many years now an dit's doing what it is supposed to do. But the doctor didn't want to take him off the strattera because it is working for him. And what is good about the strattera is that it is supposed to not interfeare with his eatting. My son has never eat right and now that he is on the rispidal he is eatting and gainning weight. I feel like I finally am helping him to get threw life much easier. I know alot of people are aginst medicine but some times you just need to let go and stop being so over protective and do whats best for the child so they can go on living happier and and feel good about themselves. Take it from a very, very protective parent. It's also very awarding to see the better managed child. Again I don't agree with medicine for kid but if it really helps them then so be it. I belive that I made the best decision ever for my son. Plus it is alot easier on me, his brother, and dad. I wish the best for all the children out there and may they get the help that they need. I send all my love to children in general but I will pray for those kids that need help. HELP THE CHILDREN BY MAKING THE RIGHT DECISION TO MAKE THEM FEEL BETTER AND HAPPIER.
hi im a 38yr old single mom of a 2yr old whom after a yr of her life had become so out of control nobody could handle her.who is this Flea/Tick who cant even put her name to her opions. my daughter is the light of my life,good,bad,happy,sad,tantrums etc. she's alway's an Angel to me. this life has not a single thing,moment,anything that's w/out any risk.I ve been judged by other's for putting my ONLY BABY,Whom was a true gift from God,as for 20yrs every Dr. test etc was clear ,id NEVER have a baby of my own! lol WRONG! so listen up,we all as parents want a safe,risk free world,people it does nt exist........get that? i was a child who went until age 26yrs old from 4 to 5 yrsold with no medication for all my disorder's,ocd,panic attack disorder,major depressive disorder,social anxiety disorder,yes none of which were ever treated with meds,my young life was lonely,sad,overwhelming,i felt useless,sad beyond comprehention ,afraid of everyone outside my home.oh an to top it off yes i have adhd to boot. until after a lifetime of feeling i was ugly,stupid,retarded the word others kids called me.laughed at tried to kill myself 3 times before 10th grade when I dropped out of school an life.my parents are both amazing smart,loving,giving,and as long as i was home safe from the outside world life was great,but see that was nt life,that was me hiding from my life.so as a medicated adult w/a medicated toddler,our life is nice,not perfect but as close to normal as i could ever ask,meds and all. you people who d judge another parent for helping a child they love more than life,what give's any of you the right? I was one of these kids an unmedicated my own parents never knew the level of my pain,distress,or panic......until I took a whole box of asthma meds an left a letter next to me ,saying how sorry i was for not being strong enough to deal w/my sorrow,telling them my love 4 them would never be further than the beat of their hearts,thanking them for all the unconditional constant love they always gave,but i had to go now,an asked them to never blame themselves,it was just me,i was broken. thank God mom found me in time ,got me the help i needed and never judged me once,ever! you all think takin meds is the easy way out? you live with what I did ,what so many kids live with ,let me tell you this after yrs of pain an sorrow ,dont ya think we deserve easy? you people judge a Dr. for what ? helping a child live their life as everyone else? im appalled at the flea s an ticks who d have the nerve to ever judge a family tryen to save a child or a Dr. who se's he must take a chance.sometime's giving a person who has a mental illness a pill as ya say ,can change a life ,by giving them back a life.Put youir judgement aside,God is the only one who will judge any of us,it's simply not your right!to the Dr.S who take this crap,treat us who need your help so much......thank you all,one of you saved my life,an i still see him every 3mths an i tell him everytime thank you for saving me Doc. God Bless us all ,and thank him for the many Dr.s an health care giver's for your kindness,for believing in us,treating us,saving us.! note to other's death happen's to us all,at any givin second our life may stop,should nt we enjoy the time God's givin to each of us? Tara Rinebold Tx. USA!
Dr. Parker did offer a measured and thoughtful approach! I am a special education teacher. I taught for 7 years in resource/self-contained classrooms, and 2 years in a program designed for autistic children. I think all of us can agree that education is vital for our children's futures. Children who tantrum, have no attention span, do not sleep, or are emotionally distraut CANNOT learn! Medication alone is not enough to help these children. Behavioral therapy is needed, also, which is research based. The sooner a child gets help and is able to learn, the less likely it will be that his educational future is negatively impacted. My heart goes out to all parents dealing with behavioral issues, mental health issues, ASD, and medical conditions. Please surround yourself with a strong support system that will be a positive influence on you and your child.
Hello to all, I am 17 years old but I am taking a college level Psychology class. We are actually studying Children and the affects of such medications.
I am going to try my best not be bias because I see where both parties are coming from. Oh and I hope to not come off as an arrogant ...person? Or a person who thinks that she knows everything because god knows that I don’t!
I have had a lot of personal and family experience with such things.
When my brother was 17 years old he was diagnosed with Bi-Polar Disorder. He was abused when he was young and after my dads dad had died things only got worse, then my parents got divorced.
My brother is now 25 years of age and still struggles with his medication from time to time. I have seen him when his meds have stopped working. At the age of 15 I had to take care of my brother and miss school because he was suicidal. I can’t stress enough how hard it is to take care of someone you look up to who wants to kill themselves.
He is on I think 6 different meds. But he needs to be. And he understands that.
(Bi-polar Disorder runs on both sides of my family)
After this had happened my sister was diagnosed with Bi-Polar disorder when she was in 7th grade or 8th grade which would make her ...11-13 years of age or so.
The doctor had her on so many medications at a critical point in her life. She was going through puberty her body was changing and developing and releasing more hormones. After being on at least 9 different medications switching them all the time, my mom decided to take my sister to The University of Iowa to get her tested. The doctor looked at my sister and said "I don't know how you are still alive, you should be dead." My sister was on a cocktail of pills for over a year.
My sister is now 22 years old and is on 2 medications maybe even 1? FOR ANXIETY!
I do not necessarily agree or disagree about putting toddlers on antidepressants/anti psychotics.
In the video that I watched in my AP Psychology class there was a girl who was 4 or 5 years old who was talking to a therapist with her mom in the room saying that she wanted to take peoples heads off. Saying that she would slit their throats, as she was giggling and laughing. Now this little girl had some serious internal issues< this would be a great example of a child who needs A LOT of therapy and some medication.
Therapy does help a lot whether you may think so or not. Therapy and meds. Is honestly a great way to go, therapy may help your child stay off of so many pills. I do understand that most insurance agencies will not pay for therapy but will help pay for medications.
I am currently taking 4 different medications which are all on the highest dosages. My psychiatrist is great to be honest. It is truly hard to find a great psychiatrist. I had a horrible psychiatrist who did not listen to a damn word I said and did what she felt was best which is fine and all, but when she didn’t take anything I said into consideration I got a little pissed. My mom called her up and kind of told her how it was. So my doc. Helped a little more from there on out but she was only hearing not really listening…that is when I decided that I need a doctor that I can talk to who won’t analyze me and judge me.
Am I over medicated? That I don't even know myself. But parents please PLEASE do your research on the medications your child is taking! Go to www.webmd.com type in the medication your child is taking and look at the warnings that are listed the precautions the side affects etc. Ask tons of questions! I mean why not? How the hell are you supposed to know everything about what they are saying? If you have any doubts in your mind you need to take those doubts into consideration, sometimes that could be motherly instinct so to speak to back off and re think the situation! Or intuition
Make sure your child is evaluated before given medication! Especially toddlers.
I do agree with what a woman said on here about her daughter with schizophrenia. I honest to god do not blame her; she is trying to take care of her child. She did the right thing by going to therapy first! And I do applaud you for going to therapy first. You are not a bad mother so whatever those people may have said to you, or wouldn’t listen to you they are totally in the wrong!
Great example in my opinion of what you should do. Things do get worse before they get better. Which is quite sad but I am starting to learn that this is how life works and it sucks but life does go on.
I just want to advise parents to be actively involved with what your child is taking. My mom doesn't even know what I am taking. I always look up all of my medications and dosages on www.webmd.com so that I know if I get side affects to call my doctor!
And from personal experience I do really stress the importance of therapy and psychiatry if your child NEEDS the medication.
It is very sad that so many kids at such a young age who maybe be irritable and that is all being put on anti-depressants. When most of the time they are misdiagnosed. I am not trying to argue with anyone, I see both sides I have personally experienced both sides and it is just one of those things that you really need to be careful with! Do the research.
Again this is coming from someone with personal experience with all of this and it really is hard on the child as well. I hate waking up every morning and taking the pills that I do, but I know that if I don’t I can go from really happy and hyper to wanting to hit someone in the blink of an eye. Either way it is going to be frustrating, but whoever said life is easy?
I hope that you will all take what I have said into consideration and not take it has judgmental or coming from a “know it all 17 year old,” because I know I don’t know “it all” plus, no one will EVER know it all!
I have just been around and had/ have a lot of experience with this. Also parents all of this is coming from someone who is a daughter of someone who is a child so to speak so again I really urge you to take what I have stated into consideration, because I really do care on both sides. Everything has positives and negatives.
Anyway thanks for reading/listening I just came across this and wanted to put my two senses in!
I do have a blog where I talk about psychology and what not along with physical fitness and fashion. The url is www.blogspot.com/spontaneous16
Thanks have a great one! And I wish the best for parents and children struggling with these decisions.
Ps. there are some doctors out there who only want the money, take that into consideration as well! Because this happened to my sister.
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