Antipsychotics Can Triple The Risk That Children Develop Diabetes

In a disturbing finding, children prescribed several widely prescribed antipsychotics face a threefold risk of developing type 2 diabetes within the first year of usage compared with other medications that are available for the same disorders the medicines are used to treat. Originally prescribed for schizophrenia, the pills are now used to treat bipolar disorder, ADHD and mood disorders, such as depression. “It’s well known that antipsychotics cause diabetes in adults, but until now the question hadn’t been fully investigated in children,: Wayne Ray, one of the study authors and director of the division of pharmacoepidemiology at Vanderbilt University, tells WebMD. He adds that many people may believe that a chronic disease such as diabetes would only develop with long-term use of the medications. The study, which was published in JAMA Psychiatry, is likely to further fuel controversy over the growing use of these medications for children. The findings come after years in which the drugmakers have fought complaints that their antipsychotics cause diabetes and weight gain, as well as charges that the drug were marketed illegally to children. High prescribing rates, for instance, have also prompted the Office of Inspector General at the US Department of Health & Human Services to investigate prescriptions for children in Medicaid and the agency has the state programs to tighten oversight. Similar concerns have been expressed about children in foster homes (back story...
Source: Pharmalot - Category: Pharma Commentators Authors: Source Type: blogs