Re “I recall seeing other data (though have since forgotten the source) suggesting that the surge in antipsychotics among children may be even greater among kids on Medicaid.”

See http://www.pharmalot.com/2008/02/nj-legislator-probe-antipsychotics-kids-medicaid/

which is just for New Jersey, but appears to be consistent with the general increase in Medicaid spending for atypical antipsychotics (and most other psychiatric drugs) as seen in the CMS data shown at http://www.psychdrugdangers.com/US/MedicaidPayments.html

This table shows the surge in Medicaid spending (304% from 2001 to 2005).

And on http://www.psychdrugdangers.com/US/MedicaidPsychDrugPayments.html you’ll see a 4,772% increase in Medicaid spending for psychiatric drugs from its inception in 1991 through 2005 with atypical antipsyhotics taking the lion’s share of the payouts accounting for 37% of the total.

Thank You for pointing that out, I will look at it closer when I return.

I think you may be misreading the data. There was not a decrease in prescriptions among girls. It was still increasing, but at a somewhat slower rate.

Atlex

But on the other hand, the prescribing of antipsychotics to children under medicaid are still increasing at an alarming rate.

I see a silver lining here. If you compare the 2005-2006 data to 2006-07 you see a dramatic decrease in prescriptions, especially in girls.

Thanks! I figured that Medicaid wasn’t on there, but wanted to be sure. I recall seeing other data (though have since forgotten the source) suggesting that the surge in antipsychotics among children may be even greater among kids on Medicaid.

Salmon is correct. I checked with Medco and I’m told the data does not include Medicaid participants.

Regards
ed

The data is from Medco a private pharmacy benefit management company. So the data would have to be their paying insurees and not medicaid patients.

Medco was bought by Merck in the mid-late ’90’s and in addition to steering people to Merck drugs, Merck was using them for monitoring for postmarketing adverse events (think Vioxx).

Medco was spun off from Merck a few years ago.

Oops. I missed the sample size — now I see it. I am also curious about the nature of the sample. Does the sample include Medicaid patients?

Thanks!

A report by Dr. Cooper at Vanderbilt University states that 2.5 million children are now taking atypical antipsychotics.

St. Petersburg Times Reports on Zyprexa A risky drug may get wider marketThe FDA may approve Zyprexa for kids, despite its significant side effects in adult use.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uuK1t474ei4

Daniel Haszard Zyprexa patient who got diabetes from it.