Janssen parties tonight
Kent emailed to say Risperdal has been approved by the FDA for kids between the ages of 13 and 17.
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About
Liz Spikol is senior contributing editor of Philadelphia Weekly. She writes the award-winning column The Trouble With Spikol, which began as a chronicle of her struggle with mental illness, and has since expanded into humorous musings on everything from graphic novels to how to use a mop. She also writes the paper's book review column, Lit Gloss. This blog -- named one of the Top 10 Bipolar Blogs of 2007 by PsychCentral -- is about mental illness policy, news, personal journeys and more.
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Comments
13 seems just too young for any sort of psychotropic drug. I'm thankful that these weren't around when I was growing up.... well, almost.
Posted by: Masale.Wallah | August 22, 2007 05:32 PM
What interested me about the FDA approval was being given an age 10 bipolar disorder in kids approval. As far as I understand, [which isn't much]I didn't think there were any "real DSM" diagnostic criteria for psychiatrists to use, and for Risperdal to be approved by the FDA for Childhood Bipolar Disorder, seems to somehow pave the way for more and more children to be medicated, and misdiagnosed. I've traveled a long road with my daughter who was labeled BP at age 11 from a reaction to an antidepressant for bedwetting. Risperdal was given to her at age 11 in 1999. How? without FDA approval does that happen?
Posted by: Stephany | August 22, 2007 10:54 PM
Stephany, From Wikipedia on Off-label use, "However, once the FDA approves a drug for prescription use, they do not attempt to regulate the practice of medicine, and so the physician makes decisions based on her or his best judgment." Joe - who was prescribed Thorazine as a child.
Posted by: Joe | August 23, 2007 03:04 PM
Here's a link to an article from last year about a possible connection between Risperdal and pituitary gland tumors, "especially in children". The article also says Risperdal might cause enlargement of the pituitary gland, which can lead to vision problems and headaches, among other thing:
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=newsarchive&sid=aWX2sm5ELhXQ
Posted by: Kent | August 23, 2007 05:46 PM