Pediatricians Debate Ritalin & Prozac
November 2, 2001
At a recent American Academy of Pediatrics meeting, physicians debated the increasing pediatric use of Prozac and Ritalin. Pediatric physicians focused on the psychiatric drugs following a report published last year demonstrating that between 1991 and 1995, Ritalin prescriptions more than tripled in preschoolers. During the same period, prescriptions for antidepressants doubled in the same group.
Critics blame the increase in prescriptions on HMOs that push doctors for quick diagnoses. Also to blame are parents' expectations and demands for quick solutions to behavior problems.
Little information is available on the effectiveness and safety of Ritalin in children under 4 years of age. However, a few studies found the drug works well in children 4 and 5 years old. There are side effects associated with Ritalin including, but not limited to, stomachache, appetite loss, headaches and trouble sleeping.
Adding to the problem are statistics showing that many children taking Ritalin are also taking other psychiatric drugs. Critics believe that these drugs may mask the child's actual problem, leading to further incorrect diagnoses.
Additionally, physicians are concerned that these drugs may have serious long-term effects on children. Some drugs alter brain chemicals and may result in a life-long change in chemical balance.
-- Article Courtesy of InjuryBoard.com
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