As drugmakers seek wider approval for their antipsychotics to be prescribed for youngsters, a new study finds some docs prescribed Risperdal for children 15 years old or younger who suffered insomnia or anxiety. Meanwhile, the med caused some kids to experience drowsiness, depression, tooth decay and weight gain. The findings were part of a national study in New Zealand and published in the latest edition of Drug Safety.More than 90 per cent of prescriptions for the 420 children involved in the study were for Risperdal, where about 600 children are regularly prescribed the drug. The study by the Intensive Medicines Monitoring Programme found harmful side effects in 30 per cent of the children on the drugs classed as “atypical antipsychotics.” A third of these were linked to the drugs, say the researchers.
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