Comments on: Antipsychotic Use Among UK Kids Keeps Rising

By: Dr. Hans J. Kugler, PhD

Dr. Hans J. Kugler, PhD — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 18:45:36 +0000

Back to basics - - - again!
Over the past years numerous speakers at the annual meetings of ACSM (Am. Coll. Sports Med.) have shown that a basic exercise program is the best antidepressant and antipsychotic.
Add quality nutrition - - with major points not skipping meals and avoiding excess sugars (mostly sugary sodas) - - and you have won the battle.
Anybody truly concerned about children’s health should work hard on bringing this message to the people at large. - -
- and then, if anybody brings up the “drugs as antidepressants and antipsychotics”, just tell them to ask a pharmacist for the drug sheet and read the possible side-effect. That always makes them think.
Please read “OVERDO$ED AMERICA” by John Abramson, MD.

By: Lisa Van S

Lisa Van S — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 15:06:40 +0000

pg,

Im aware of the NY numbers, Susan Edelman of the NY post wrote a story on it. Ed had posted the story here on Pharmalot.

By: Joanne Cali

Joanne Cali — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 01:08:16 +0000

A few decades ago, children were managing without these drugs. I find it hard to believe that suddenly so many kids need labelling normal behaviors as “disorders”, and then drugging them. I think when you subdue the liveliness of a child, you detract from his life - and his longevity. Side effects of using these meds on kids (who are “hyperactive”) include stunting skull growth, enlarging the heart, and the uninhibiting of violence on self or others. One thing we can say for sure is that those who have committed massacres at schools - the vast majority having been on them at the time - were obviously Not cured by them. That’s the best one can say. The worst is that the drugs themselves cause this to occur (incidents which have never in history occurred before in schools). I read a study in a book on Prosac, that found SSRIs to deplete REM sleep, and sometimes cause those deprived act awake, but actually be asleep (proven by brain scans). Thus a person on these drugs for an extended time could possibly act out their nightmares; because the SSRIs also were found to remove the normal paralysis we experience during REM (Rapid Eye Movement) dream sleep. These school massacres could be instances of this occurring.

By: pg

pg — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 21:31:56 +0000

“If we combine IMS and Medicaid Data,.. I believe the number may be greater than 2.5 million”

Lisa, if the following link is anything to go on, then I think Dr Healy MAY have been quoting from a 2006 study and, if so, I too believe that the number is likely to have risen in 2007, so would be greater than 2.5 million now.

http://www.ahrp.org/cms/content/view/112/28
It says that the Associated Press reports that a newly released study by Dr. William Cooper of Vanderbilt Children’s Hospital found that two and half million children in the U.S. are being prescribed antipsychotics annually.

There’s also the numbers on 2 antipsychotics given to children on Medicaid in New York, though I don’t is the figures are accurate.
http://disgustedwiththesystem.blogspot.com/2008/02/medicaid-kids-in-psych-rx-urge.html
Risperdal was given to 17,393 New York Medicaid kids in 2006
Zyprexa was prescribed to 2,647 New York Medicaid kids in 2006.

By: donna

donna — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 02:30:11 +0000

You Go Girl……….exhausting as it is the sqeaky get’s heard………

By: Lisa Van S

Lisa Van S — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 02:11:04 +0000

NJ Medicaid Record: Psychotropics given to NJ Foster children, and the names of Physicians who prescribed to Infants and Toddlers
SEE HERE

http://www.psychdrugdangers.com/NJ/NJMedicaidoct2006.html

By: Lisa Van S

Lisa Van S — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 20:43:22 +0000

Atlex,

My public e-mail address is lvansyckel61@yahoo.com

I will be more than happy, to provide you with the NJ Medicaid data, and then you can tell me what you think.
I respect and honor confidentiality.

By: Atlex

Atlex — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 20:14:36 +0000

Lisa, I understand your position and appreciate the fact that you are seeking validated data. I look forward to seeing what turns up. I did do a quick search of the professional literature and quickly found that in Massachusetts roughly 5% to 9% of children in the state’s care are on antipsychotics and 30%+ are on behavioral drugs of some sort. The link below will take you to a powerpoint presentation of the study.

http://rtckids.fmhi.usf.edu/rtcconference/handouts/pdf/20/Session%2034/straus.pdf

By: Lisa Van S

Lisa Van S — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 20:01:49 +0000

Atlex,

I have known Dr. David Healy for more than 4 years, A man, who I have deep respect for. He is not an individual that would pull a number out of his hat, and Sarah Boseley, Health Editor to the Guardian, takes great pride in the accuracy of her reporting. I have e-mailed Dr. Healy requesting documentation.

The validated data is now in the hands of NJ State Legislators. I have no conflict of interest here,.. so,.. unlike others,.. I have no need to lie!!!

By: Aflect

Aflect — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 19:14:18 +0000

If you guessed Pfizer - you would be wrong.