Guest guest Posted May 28, 2011 Report Share Posted May 28, 2011 http://davidbransford.com/2011/05/28/davidbransfordmd-blog-overmedicating-our-ki\ ds/ BransfordMD Blog Overmedicating Our Kids May 28, 2011 @ 8:03 pm › drbransfordmd ↓ Skip to comments  In recent weeks, my Twitter account has experienced what seems like a significant increase in posts related to what by most is viewed as excessive and inappropriate utilization of psychotropic medications in children and adolescents. Often the medications are prescribed “off label†and given for behavioral control, not psychosis. The questions related to “informed consent†have not be adequately addressed. Monitoring for adverse side effects does not seem to be taking place. The vast majority of medications being prescribed are the so called Atypical Antipsychotics, but given in residential, group, and foster homes for disruptive behaviors, not for psychotic states. On line, I have heard from professional journalists, stating their concern and surprises that the national media has not seemed to pick this trend up and insist on some type of “Grassley Review†In my opinion, the top notch patient advocate bloggers have been posting the concerns for literally years. Where is the Outrage? The Profits for BigPharma are probably a big factor, but I fear it is more insidious than that. Our “There’s a pill for that†culture seems far too deeply ingrained…reinforced by Direct to Consumer Ads, Aggressive marketing to med students, residents, and new grads. Perhaps it is far too easy to overlook the input from Social Workers, Probation Officers, Case Managers, nurses – too easily influenced by the marketing from these powerful and profitable medications. As the Pipeline for Branded antipsychotics narrows, the attempts to obtain broader indications from the FDA seems to intensify. Then there is the work on the DSM V, scheduled for 2013 with what I perceive as broader boundries, “disease mongering†– presumably in an effort to expand the pharmaceutical market. Certain States have or will soon pursue intensive reviews of criteria for appropriate prescribing..But without a primary advocate for the child, prescribing seems far too apt to occur. At the very least, the equivalent of a Jarvis Hearing should take place. These children are being subjected to very potent antipsychotic medications with evidence of permanent, irreversible side effects. If they are in court order (or voluntary) placement, they often have no choice. Long acting Injections are being recommended to enhance “adherence†For Birth Control, so many young teenagers are given long acting hormones, rather than daily pills. To prevent HPV, Gardisil is routinely given – with no review of the potential life threatening side effects Bloggers have been presenting me with the strong risk dangers of this vaccine for years.. With the 3 new “Me Too†2GAPs (asenapine, iloperidone, & lurasadone), prescribers have immediately started to prescribe them or hand out samples. It strikes me as irresponsible, to say the least. Since these are off label for kids, it strikes me as unethical as well. I hope to view a Public Outcry very Soon. I am so appreciative to those bloggers and medical journalits that continue to present not just the concerns, but the scientific data. As for Dollars for Doctors, we have a very long row to hoe. Vince can sell ShamWows, and May must have been effective with OxyClean.Marketing on TV as far back as vegematic & Pocket Fisherman must have been very profitable, but these are young human lives being adversely affected in ways that we have probably yet to discover…we know about the metabolic effects, risk of obesity, probability of diabetes-but it does not seem to stop the meds from being prescribed in record numbers. I will attempt to retrieve a few of the recent twitter linked posts as reminders. & add them to this post, Sincerely, Bransford MD Sent via BlackBerry by AT & T Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 28, 2011 Report Share Posted May 28, 2011 http://davidbransford.com/2011/05/28/davidbransfordmd-blog-overmedicating-our-ki\ ds/ BransfordMD Blog Overmedicating Our Kids May 28, 2011 @ 8:03 pm › drbransfordmd ↓ Skip to comments  In recent weeks, my Twitter account has experienced what seems like a significant increase in posts related to what by most is viewed as excessive and inappropriate utilization of psychotropic medications in children and adolescents. Often the medications are prescribed “off label†and given for behavioral control, not psychosis. The questions related to “informed consent†have not be adequately addressed. Monitoring for adverse side effects does not seem to be taking place. The vast majority of medications being prescribed are the so called Atypical Antipsychotics, but given in residential, group, and foster homes for disruptive behaviors, not for psychotic states. On line, I have heard from professional journalists, stating their concern and surprises that the national media has not seemed to pick this trend up and insist on some type of “Grassley Review†In my opinion, the top notch patient advocate bloggers have been posting the concerns for literally years. Where is the Outrage? The Profits for BigPharma are probably a big factor, but I fear it is more insidious than that. Our “There’s a pill for that†culture seems far too deeply ingrained…reinforced by Direct to Consumer Ads, Aggressive marketing to med students, residents, and new grads. Perhaps it is far too easy to overlook the input from Social Workers, Probation Officers, Case Managers, nurses – too easily influenced by the marketing from these powerful and profitable medications. As the Pipeline for Branded antipsychotics narrows, the attempts to obtain broader indications from the FDA seems to intensify. Then there is the work on the DSM V, scheduled for 2013 with what I perceive as broader boundries, “disease mongering†– presumably in an effort to expand the pharmaceutical market. Certain States have or will soon pursue intensive reviews of criteria for appropriate prescribing..But without a primary advocate for the child, prescribing seems far too apt to occur. At the very least, the equivalent of a Jarvis Hearing should take place. These children are being subjected to very potent antipsychotic medications with evidence of permanent, irreversible side effects. If they are in court order (or voluntary) placement, they often have no choice. Long acting Injections are being recommended to enhance “adherence†For Birth Control, so many young teenagers are given long acting hormones, rather than daily pills. To prevent HPV, Gardisil is routinely given – with no review of the potential life threatening side effects Bloggers have been presenting me with the strong risk dangers of this vaccine for years.. With the 3 new “Me Too†2GAPs (asenapine, iloperidone, & lurasadone), prescribers have immediately started to prescribe them or hand out samples. It strikes me as irresponsible, to say the least. Since these are off label for kids, it strikes me as unethical as well. I hope to view a Public Outcry very Soon. I am so appreciative to those bloggers and medical journalits that continue to present not just the concerns, but the scientific data. As for Dollars for Doctors, we have a very long row to hoe. Vince can sell ShamWows, and May must have been effective with OxyClean.Marketing on TV as far back as vegematic & Pocket Fisherman must have been very profitable, but these are young human lives being adversely affected in ways that we have probably yet to discover…we know about the metabolic effects, risk of obesity, probability of diabetes-but it does not seem to stop the meds from being prescribed in record numbers. I will attempt to retrieve a few of the recent twitter linked posts as reminders. & add them to this post, Sincerely, Bransford MD Sent via BlackBerry by AT & T Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 28, 2011 Report Share Posted May 28, 2011 http://davidbransford.com/2011/05/28/davidbransfordmd-blog-overmedicating-our-ki\ ds/ BransfordMD Blog Overmedicating Our Kids May 28, 2011 @ 8:03 pm › drbransfordmd ↓ Skip to comments  In recent weeks, my Twitter account has experienced what seems like a significant increase in posts related to what by most is viewed as excessive and inappropriate utilization of psychotropic medications in children and adolescents. Often the medications are prescribed “off label†and given for behavioral control, not psychosis. The questions related to “informed consent†have not be adequately addressed. Monitoring for adverse side effects does not seem to be taking place. The vast majority of medications being prescribed are the so called Atypical Antipsychotics, but given in residential, group, and foster homes for disruptive behaviors, not for psychotic states. On line, I have heard from professional journalists, stating their concern and surprises that the national media has not seemed to pick this trend up and insist on some type of “Grassley Review†In my opinion, the top notch patient advocate bloggers have been posting the concerns for literally years. Where is the Outrage? The Profits for BigPharma are probably a big factor, but I fear it is more insidious than that. Our “There’s a pill for that†culture seems far too deeply ingrained…reinforced by Direct to Consumer Ads, Aggressive marketing to med students, residents, and new grads. Perhaps it is far too easy to overlook the input from Social Workers, Probation Officers, Case Managers, nurses – too easily influenced by the marketing from these powerful and profitable medications. As the Pipeline for Branded antipsychotics narrows, the attempts to obtain broader indications from the FDA seems to intensify. Then there is the work on the DSM V, scheduled for 2013 with what I perceive as broader boundries, “disease mongering†– presumably in an effort to expand the pharmaceutical market. Certain States have or will soon pursue intensive reviews of criteria for appropriate prescribing..But without a primary advocate for the child, prescribing seems far too apt to occur. At the very least, the equivalent of a Jarvis Hearing should take place. These children are being subjected to very potent antipsychotic medications with evidence of permanent, irreversible side effects. If they are in court order (or voluntary) placement, they often have no choice. Long acting Injections are being recommended to enhance “adherence†For Birth Control, so many young teenagers are given long acting hormones, rather than daily pills. To prevent HPV, Gardisil is routinely given – with no review of the potential life threatening side effects Bloggers have been presenting me with the strong risk dangers of this vaccine for years.. With the 3 new “Me Too†2GAPs (asenapine, iloperidone, & lurasadone), prescribers have immediately started to prescribe them or hand out samples. It strikes me as irresponsible, to say the least. Since these are off label for kids, it strikes me as unethical as well. I hope to view a Public Outcry very Soon. I am so appreciative to those bloggers and medical journalits that continue to present not just the concerns, but the scientific data. As for Dollars for Doctors, we have a very long row to hoe. Vince can sell ShamWows, and May must have been effective with OxyClean.Marketing on TV as far back as vegematic & Pocket Fisherman must have been very profitable, but these are young human lives being adversely affected in ways that we have probably yet to discover…we know about the metabolic effects, risk of obesity, probability of diabetes-but it does not seem to stop the meds from being prescribed in record numbers. I will attempt to retrieve a few of the recent twitter linked posts as reminders. & add them to this post, Sincerely, Bransford MD Sent via BlackBerry by AT & T Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 28, 2011 Report Share Posted May 28, 2011 http://davidbransford.com/2011/05/28/davidbransfordmd-blog-overmedicating-our-ki\ ds/ BransfordMD Blog Overmedicating Our Kids May 28, 2011 @ 8:03 pm › drbransfordmd ↓ Skip to comments  In recent weeks, my Twitter account has experienced what seems like a significant increase in posts related to what by most is viewed as excessive and inappropriate utilization of psychotropic medications in children and adolescents. Often the medications are prescribed “off label†and given for behavioral control, not psychosis. The questions related to “informed consent†have not be adequately addressed. Monitoring for adverse side effects does not seem to be taking place. The vast majority of medications being prescribed are the so called Atypical Antipsychotics, but given in residential, group, and foster homes for disruptive behaviors, not for psychotic states. On line, I have heard from professional journalists, stating their concern and surprises that the national media has not seemed to pick this trend up and insist on some type of “Grassley Review†In my opinion, the top notch patient advocate bloggers have been posting the concerns for literally years. Where is the Outrage? The Profits for BigPharma are probably a big factor, but I fear it is more insidious than that. Our “There’s a pill for that†culture seems far too deeply ingrained…reinforced by Direct to Consumer Ads, Aggressive marketing to med students, residents, and new grads. Perhaps it is far too easy to overlook the input from Social Workers, Probation Officers, Case Managers, nurses – too easily influenced by the marketing from these powerful and profitable medications. As the Pipeline for Branded antipsychotics narrows, the attempts to obtain broader indications from the FDA seems to intensify. Then there is the work on the DSM V, scheduled for 2013 with what I perceive as broader boundries, “disease mongering†– presumably in an effort to expand the pharmaceutical market. Certain States have or will soon pursue intensive reviews of criteria for appropriate prescribing..But without a primary advocate for the child, prescribing seems far too apt to occur. At the very least, the equivalent of a Jarvis Hearing should take place. These children are being subjected to very potent antipsychotic medications with evidence of permanent, irreversible side effects. If they are in court order (or voluntary) placement, they often have no choice. Long acting Injections are being recommended to enhance “adherence†For Birth Control, so many young teenagers are given long acting hormones, rather than daily pills. To prevent HPV, Gardisil is routinely given – with no review of the potential life threatening side effects Bloggers have been presenting me with the strong risk dangers of this vaccine for years.. With the 3 new “Me Too†2GAPs (asenapine, iloperidone, & lurasadone), prescribers have immediately started to prescribe them or hand out samples. It strikes me as irresponsible, to say the least. Since these are off label for kids, it strikes me as unethical as well. I hope to view a Public Outcry very Soon. I am so appreciative to those bloggers and medical journalits that continue to present not just the concerns, but the scientific data. As for Dollars for Doctors, we have a very long row to hoe. Vince can sell ShamWows, and May must have been effective with OxyClean.Marketing on TV as far back as vegematic & Pocket Fisherman must have been very profitable, but these are young human lives being adversely affected in ways that we have probably yet to discover…we know about the metabolic effects, risk of obesity, probability of diabetes-but it does not seem to stop the meds from being prescribed in record numbers. I will attempt to retrieve a few of the recent twitter linked posts as reminders. & add them to this post, Sincerely, Bransford MD Sent via BlackBerry by AT & T Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You are posting as a guest. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.