Zombie drug kids on the rise

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Metro (4th largest newspaper in the UK)

" Zombie drug " kids on the rise

May 5, 2008

The number of children being prescribed anti-psychotic drugs not

officially approved for youngsters has risen sharply since the early

1990s.

The increase - from a rate of four children per 10,000 in 1992 to seven

youngsters per 10,000 in 2005 - was despite fears over side effects.

The use of the drugs designed for adults, which are prescribed for

conditions such as hyperactivity and autism, tripled in children aged

seven to 12-years-old.

But critics claim the medication, which can also be used to treat manic

depression, may have side-effects such as weight gain and heart

problems.

'The long-term risks of these drugs are, as yet, unknown', said Prof

Scoot of the Institute of Psychiatry, King's College London.

'These drugs can also have substantial side-effects, for example

Risperidone (Risperdal), typically leads to considerable weight gain.

'There is only modest evidence for their effectiveness in children with

conduct disorders who have an average IQ and do not have

attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder.

'However, medication may dramatically reduce aggression in unusual cases

and, in children with prolonged rages, anti-psychotics prescribed for

short periods of up to four months may help the families to cope.'

Risperdal - an adult schizophrenia treatment that is sometimes used to

curb irritability and aggression in autism - is one of the most commonly

used drugs in Britain.

Its side effects include drowsiness and weight gain.

The use of thioridazine which is prescribed for hyperactivity, decreased

after 2000 following fears of heart-related side effects.

'This highlights the need for long-term safety investigations and

ongoing clinical monitoring, particularly if the prescribing rate of

these medicines continues to rise', said researchers from the University

of London.

The study was published in Pediatrics journal.

+++

26,602 Signatures Against TeenScreen.

http://www.petitiononline.com/TScreen/petition.html Video:

[Guest guest]

Comments can be made here:

http://www.metro.co.uk/news/article.html?in_article_id=146111 & in_page_id

=34

Metro (4th largest newspaper in the UK)

" Zombie drug " kids on the rise

May 5, 2008

The number of children being prescribed anti-psychotic drugs not

officially approved for youngsters has risen sharply since the early

1990s.

The increase - from a rate of four children per 10,000 in 1992 to seven

youngsters per 10,000 in 2005 - was despite fears over side effects.

The use of the drugs designed for adults, which are prescribed for

conditions such as hyperactivity and autism, tripled in children aged

seven to 12-years-old.

But critics claim the medication, which can also be used to treat manic

depression, may have side-effects such as weight gain and heart

problems.

'The long-term risks of these drugs are, as yet, unknown', said Prof

Scoot of the Institute of Psychiatry, King's College London.

'These drugs can also have substantial side-effects, for example

Risperidone (Risperdal), typically leads to considerable weight gain.

'There is only modest evidence for their effectiveness in children with

conduct disorders who have an average IQ and do not have

attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder.

'However, medication may dramatically reduce aggression in unusual cases

and, in children with prolonged rages, anti-psychotics prescribed for

short periods of up to four months may help the families to cope.'

Risperdal - an adult schizophrenia treatment that is sometimes used to

curb irritability and aggression in autism - is one of the most commonly

used drugs in Britain.

Its side effects include drowsiness and weight gain.

The use of thioridazine which is prescribed for hyperactivity, decreased

after 2000 following fears of heart-related side effects.

'This highlights the need for long-term safety investigations and

ongoing clinical monitoring, particularly if the prescribing rate of

these medicines continues to rise', said researchers from the University

of London.

The study was published in Pediatrics journal.

+++

26,602 Signatures Against TeenScreen.

http://www.petitiononline.com/TScreen/petition.html Video:

[Guest guest]

Comments can be made here:

http://www.metro.co.uk/news/article.html?in_article_id=146111 & in_page_id

=34

Metro (4th largest newspaper in the UK)

" Zombie drug " kids on the rise

May 5, 2008

The number of children being prescribed anti-psychotic drugs not

officially approved for youngsters has risen sharply since the early

1990s.

The increase - from a rate of four children per 10,000 in 1992 to seven

youngsters per 10,000 in 2005 - was despite fears over side effects.

The use of the drugs designed for adults, which are prescribed for

conditions such as hyperactivity and autism, tripled in children aged

seven to 12-years-old.

But critics claim the medication, which can also be used to treat manic

depression, may have side-effects such as weight gain and heart

problems.

'The long-term risks of these drugs are, as yet, unknown', said Prof

Scoot of the Institute of Psychiatry, King's College London.

'These drugs can also have substantial side-effects, for example

Risperidone (Risperdal), typically leads to considerable weight gain.

'There is only modest evidence for their effectiveness in children with

conduct disorders who have an average IQ and do not have

attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder.

'However, medication may dramatically reduce aggression in unusual cases

and, in children with prolonged rages, anti-psychotics prescribed for

short periods of up to four months may help the families to cope.'

Risperdal - an adult schizophrenia treatment that is sometimes used to

curb irritability and aggression in autism - is one of the most commonly

used drugs in Britain.

Its side effects include drowsiness and weight gain.

The use of thioridazine which is prescribed for hyperactivity, decreased

after 2000 following fears of heart-related side effects.

'This highlights the need for long-term safety investigations and

ongoing clinical monitoring, particularly if the prescribing rate of

these medicines continues to rise', said researchers from the University

of London.

The study was published in Pediatrics journal.

+++

26,602 Signatures Against TeenScreen.

http://www.petitiononline.com/TScreen/petition.html Video:

[Guest guest]

Comments can be made here:

http://www.metro.co.uk/news/article.html?in_article_id=146111 & in_page_id

=34

Metro (4th largest newspaper in the UK)

" Zombie drug " kids on the rise

May 5, 2008

The number of children being prescribed anti-psychotic drugs not

officially approved for youngsters has risen sharply since the early

1990s.

The increase - from a rate of four children per 10,000 in 1992 to seven

youngsters per 10,000 in 2005 - was despite fears over side effects.

The use of the drugs designed for adults, which are prescribed for

conditions such as hyperactivity and autism, tripled in children aged

seven to 12-years-old.

But critics claim the medication, which can also be used to treat manic

depression, may have side-effects such as weight gain and heart

problems.

'The long-term risks of these drugs are, as yet, unknown', said Prof

Scoot of the Institute of Psychiatry, King's College London.

'These drugs can also have substantial side-effects, for example

Risperidone (Risperdal), typically leads to considerable weight gain.

'There is only modest evidence for their effectiveness in children with

conduct disorders who have an average IQ and do not have

attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder.

'However, medication may dramatically reduce aggression in unusual cases

and, in children with prolonged rages, anti-psychotics prescribed for

short periods of up to four months may help the families to cope.'

Risperdal - an adult schizophrenia treatment that is sometimes used to

curb irritability and aggression in autism - is one of the most commonly

used drugs in Britain.

Its side effects include drowsiness and weight gain.

The use of thioridazine which is prescribed for hyperactivity, decreased

after 2000 following fears of heart-related side effects.

'This highlights the need for long-term safety investigations and

ongoing clinical monitoring, particularly if the prescribing rate of

these medicines continues to rise', said researchers from the University

of London.

The study was published in Pediatrics journal.

+++

26,602 Signatures Against TeenScreen.

http://www.petitiononline.com/TScreen/petition.html Video: