The Effects Of Antipsychotics On Children

Although there are some reasons for children to take medications for their health, they should not be treated with antidepressants for many reasons. Many remember the trend in the 1960s and 1970s that inspired the film Valley of the Dolls. Housewives were taking Valium as if it were candy. Today, things have changed. The Antidrug commercials urge parents to get help and their children off drugs too. At the same time, parents are on the other hand urged to keep their children in check. In this pill popping society, children who misbehave are no longer tolerated. There is no more "boys will be boys" mentality anymore and children who misbehave and are disruptive are often recommended Ritalin or some other drug to make the Teachers day a bit

One of the greatest concerns of psychotropic drug use in children and adolescents is that this type of medication is overprescribed. According to a report by the Food and Drug Administration, as of September 2009, “more than 500,000 children and adolescents in America are now taking antipsychotic drugs.” (Wilson, 2010) 500,000 is definitely a large number, but considering the fact that approximately one in ten children in the United States suffer from various mental illnesses, this number is actually quite low. The main reason people believe this medication is overprescribed is because many parents are simply looking for an easy way to quell their child’s hyperactivity. “’Families sometimes feel the need for a quick fix,’ Dr. Gleason said. ‘That’s often the prescription pad. But I’m concerned that when a child sees someone who prescribes but doesn’t do therapy, they’re closing the door that can make longer-lasting change.’” (Wilson, 2010)

As we have seen, treatment of schizophrenia with antipsychotic drugs can have impressive results in terms of decreasing active symptoms, although it does nothing to alleviate negative symptoms or to improve cognitive functioning. Unfortunately, this kind of treatment has the drawback of extremely serious and even fatal side-effects. Newer generation atypical antipsychotics offer more hope, as they can treat both active and negative symptoms, and also improve cognitive functioning. Moreover, they have fewer side-effects. However, treatment is complicated by the fact that results are unpredictable; and in addition the side-effects that they do have can be very serious, such as diabetes, which in itself is life-threatening. However, as the potential side-effects are known, the physician has leeway to choose a drug which is a good match for the patient’s clinical profile. Then, once the patient’s symptoms have been much alleviated with an appropriate newer generation atypical antipsychotic, the patient should be able to also benefit from a range of psychotherapeutic interventions. It is argued that this is the best treatment regime to choose, as it is likely to result in the greatest improvement in quality of life, coupled with the lowest risk of potentially devastating side-effects, or of death. This is likely to be better than utilizing cognitive behavioral therapy, the results of which are not reliably known – although research has certainly shown that it is less efficacious

Antipsychotic medications are proven to help in treating acute psychosis and to reduce the risk of future psychotic events. People with severe symptoms require hospitalization to ensure safety, proper nutrition, adequate sleep, and proper hygiene. Some common medication used to treat schizophrenia are, trifluoperazine, flupenthixol, loxapine among others. There is a side effect from every medication we take, and there is no exception for antipsychotic medications. These medications may cause, drowsiness, dizziness, blurred vision, rapid heartbeat, sensitivity to the sun, rashes, and menstrual problems for women. People taking these medications should not operate machinery or drive a car until they adjust to all of their medications. However, people might need to try several medications until they find the appropriate medication for them. People should not stop taking any medication without the proper recommendation from their doctor. Not taking their medication adequately may cause a relapse and the symptoms come back or usually their symptoms get

The United States Senate Committee for Health conducted research regarding the prescribing of these psychotropic drugs(drugs that alter brain function in order to alter mood, perception, or consciousness). The committee found that since 1993 and 2009, the use of antipsychotic drugs has been multiplied by 8 times for children and has been multiplied by 5 for adolescents. A professor of pediatrics and health policy that was at a committee hearing referenced a patient who he treated for weight gain. Professor William Cooper said that the weight gain had been a side effect of a psychotropic drug prescribed to him by his primary care provider. No

Over the years, a disorder known as Schizophrenia has affected many people across the globe. Before advances in the 20th century mental health movement occurred, many thought that the symptoms conveyed by an individual with the disorder were demonically possessed (Walker and Tessner 2008). Today, more and more people are being properly educated about this disorder and understand its effects on individuals, however, there are misguided and false perceptions about it, similar to those prior to the 20th century.

Recently published study revealed that dementia patients who are taking antipsychotics drugs are more on risks of death. And the risk increased as dose increased. Patients, families and their care teams deserve better to prevent and treat distressing dementia symptoms. So it better to avoid this drug in dementia patient. When treating behavior problems in dementia patients, non-medicinal strategies are often more effective; however, they require time, energy, and,

Children and adolescents are suffering from side effects due to prescription antipsychotic drugs. Antipsychotic Drugs are being prescribed because of insurance companies like Medicare and Medicaid. Children should not be prescribed antipsychotic drugs because of the side effects, health providers benefitting from the prescription drugs, and the amount of children taking antipsychotic drugs. Doctors should refrain from prescribing these drugs until more long term effectiveness has been conducted on children. Doctors have yet to discover and cure all side effects.

It was determined that boys are more likely to come down with autism four to five more times than girls are, because there is no cure for Autism, researchers are constantly trying to find ways, and medications, to help the children and families can cope with the negative effects of this disorder. The effects of the popular drug Risperidone given to children with autism is covered in the article "Cognitive Effects of Risperidone in Children with Autism and Irritable Behavior." This drug is tested on children who have autism and irritable behaviors such as disruptive behavior disorders and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. An individual who has a variety of complex brain development disorders is diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder.

Antipsychotics are primarily used to manage the symptoms of psychosis, particularly schizophrenia and bipolar disorder by blocking D2 receptors in the dopamine pathway of the brain. There are two main types of antipsychotics; typical antipsychotics, also known as the first generation antipsychotics (FGA) which were developed in 1950s, example of medicine in this category include Chloropromazine, Haloperidol, Flupenthixol, and Loxapine. Atypical antipsychotics, also referred as second generational antipsychotics (SGA) which acts as an antagonist for 5HT2A receptor aside from its blocking effect on D2 receptor, drugs in this class include Olanzapine, Quetiapine, Risperidone, Clozapine and Aripiprazole.

Justification: They are unreliable and subject to psychotic illness and if on antipsychotic medication can lead to Parkinsonism (side effect of antipsychotics).

The other category of medication is new generation medicine. These are also known as atypical antipsychotics, and they are different from traditional (typical) medications because of the less severe side effects that they have when it comes to movement. Examples of atypical antipsychotics are closapine, pisperidone, and quetiapine. The medications work much like traditional medications; they regulate dopamine and serotonin, another neurotransmitter that controls memory and mood functions.

The debate to prescribe children psychiatric drugs has been going on for at least 57 years. 2,165,279 children are prescribed anti-depressants. 8,389,034 children are prescribed anti-psychiatric drugs. Although the medication may work, there are alternative treatments available until more research is done to determine more long-term side effects. A person’s brain does not develop fully until the age of 25. If you give a child a strong medication before psychological treatment to determine how mentally unstable the child is; the child may not be physical and mentally the same once he/she is adapted to the medication prescribed. This is why adolescents should not be given anti-depressant or anti-psychiatric

Schizophrenia treatment has developed to have two specific classes of drugs, typical antipsychotics and atypical antipsychotics. Typical antipsychotics were the first type of drugs to be used on schizophrenia patients. They are also known as the ‘first-generation’ drugs. Atypical antipsychotics, or ‘second-generation’ drugs are newer drugs that are now often used in replacement of the ‘first-generation’ drugs. However this progression of drug treatment for schizophrenia patients has shown little change in effectiveness as studies were unable to find distinct difference. The only real difference between the two can be seen in their prices and side effects. Although, the typical antipsychotics have now tapped into the fast-growing generic drug

People who suffered from schizophrenia were once mistaken to be “dangerous” and untreatable. For this reason, they were often institutionalized and removed from society (DiRocco). The causes of this mental psychotic disorder has been much more understood over the past decade resulting in the possibility for people with schizophrenia to live more average lives. Development of treatments, such as medication and various forms of psychotherapies, have been effective in treating symptoms and common comorbid psychological disorders like depression and anxiety.