Risperdal, Antipsychotic Drugs Dangerous and Unapproved for Children

Risperdal is not only being given to elderly patients with dementia causing death but to children as well. The more I research this drug, the more it sickens me.

500,000 children in the US are using behavior drugs such as Rispedal, Zyprexa, Abilify, and Geodon for behavior problems. Many of the these behavior problems such as eating disorders are 'off label' and are not approved uses for the drug.

Why in the last 10 years have drug prescriptions for children sky rocketed? The New York Times in 2006 investigated this trend and published its findings. Their report should sicken anyone who reads it. It is apparent by this report, that greed is responsible for what is going on in this country by pharmaceutical companies and the physicians who write these prescriptions. A small summary of this report is next. I invite you to read the whole report here so that you will know what is behind the upsurge of drug prescriptions. Our beloved physicians are being bought out by the drug companies at your expense and your children's.

Summary From the New York Times investigation:

The New York Times analyzed the records of Minnesota physicians and drug sales. Why did they investigate Minnesota, not another state? It is the only state that requires public records to be kept of all drug company marketing payments to doctors. From 2000 to 2005 drug pharmaceutical payments to doctors totaled over 1.6 million dollars.

Isn't it interesting that prescriptions for antipsychotics to children in Minnesota's Medicaid program increased nine fold during that same time period.

Drug companies give bonuses to doctors who recommended their drugs, who teach lectures, perform studies, and pay them to write guidelines about their drugs.

In Minnesota, it was found that doctors receiving the most money from the drug companies for lectures prescribed three times more of these drugs to children.

One psychiatrist received $5000 for just three lectures on one of these drugs.

Another well known psychiatrist in Minnesota earned more than $188,000 from 2002 to 2005 for giving drug marketing lectures.

One of the most affluent psychiatrists topped the scale by earning almost $700,000 giving drug lecture talks.

The New York Times research showed that from 1997 through 2005, more than one third of Minnesota's licensed psychiatrists took money from drug companies. This one third included the last eight presidents of the Minnesota psychiatric Society. There is a huge problem of conflict of interest in this country.

Other Investigations Proving Greed and Conflict of Interest:

Dr. Joseph Biederman was a world famous Harvard educated child psychiatrist who advocated the diagnosis of bipolar disorder in children. Investigation found he had received over one million from Johnson and Johnson. He got into trouble for neglecting to tell Harvard about the drug payments. Johnson and Johnson also funded his Massachusetts General Research Center with another 1 million. This center's main focus was research on bipolar disorder in children and young adults. The center publicly stated that one of its missions was to move forward the commercial goals of J & J. He didn't even try to hide his loyalty to them.

Did he inform his patients of his loyalty to J & J when writing these prescriptions? Emails proved that this doctor agreed to use his reputation to promote their drugs. It was also shown that employees under him also promoted the drug. There are lawsuits involving this doctor for his conflicts of interest.

Iowa's Senator Charles Grassley also researched conflict of interest between doctors and drug companies. He didn't have to search very far. Dr. Frederick Goodwin, was the radio host of ,"The Infinite Mind," which was pulled off the air. This famous psychiatrist and well known radio celebrity got paid by drug companies for marketing lectures on the same drugs he promoted in his radio show. Goodwin received $329,000 dollars for promoting Lamictal on his show to give one example.

The producer of the show was unaware of his ties to drug company payments. The show was pulled in light of the investigation. That show had one million listeners at the time of its recall and 60 journalism awards. One million listeners were brainwashed by a man they thought was professional and trustworthy. He was a drug rep basically for the company and made a ton of money misrepresenting his intentions and the drugs he was pushing. 11-30-2008

Dangerous and In Some Cases Irreversible Side Effects:

Even though this drug has been approved for autism, this drug was not intended for children. There are NO long term studies to determine how it will affect the minds or physical bodies of growing children.

If you research the drug, you will find that it is dangerous to give this drug to children for behavior problems. Permanent side effects have already surfaced from the use of this drug with children. If you read the clinical trial reports used to determine side effects, most of the trials were only for 6 to 8 weeks and on adults not children. The longest clinical trial was a year. If horrible side effects turn up in just 6 to 8 weeks, how much damage will these drugs do over time in growing, developing children? It isn't hard to figure that out.

Development of Breasts in male children: The drug causes a rise in prolactin. This causes breast development. This breast development is so pronounced that surgery is needed to remove the tissue in males. There are many lawsuits as of Jan 2010 on this issue alone. See references below.

Tardive Dyskinesia or TD: A syndrome that is often irreversible of involuntary movements of the face, tongue, and limbs that cannot be controlled by the patient. This is a side effect with all antipsychotic drugs. They cannot predict when the syndrome will occur and in many cases can't be reversed. TD does occur with some patients even on a low dosage. The longer the patient is on the drug, the higher the rate of developing the syndrome.

Diabetes: These drugs often cause diabetes and spikes in blood sugar that can be life threatening. This is from the FDA on these drugs. I want to note here that the patient did not have diabetes before the drug was prescribed. If a diabetic patient is taking these drugs, the drug will make the problem worse and even fatal.

Weight Gain; This drug causes a weight gain. Since many children with problems are obese, this will cause them to gain more weight. Gaining weight is another factor in developing diabetes. This drug promotes sugar imbalance.

Motor impairment: muscle disturbances, restlessness, tremors, muscle stiffness. They have no real data on how this drug affects growing children. Motor impairment often persists, even when the child is taken off the drugs.

Restlessness and sleepiness; Children who have behavior problems don't need their symptoms to be made worse.

Death: 29 known children's deaths occured in 2006 from antipsychotic drugs and hundreds of side effect complaints. That death rate has increased to almost 50 children at this time.

Please read the story found here of one family whose child was effected from Risperdal. They took him off the drug because of the severe side effects. They turned to oxygen therapy, behavior therapies, and other non- drug treatments which improved his health and behavior over time. The therapies did not reverse the TD completely. That child will have some permanent TD problems for the rest of this life.

Alternatives Therapies for Disturbed Children:

Behavior Therapy Administered Through Child Psychiatrists Without Drugs.

Many child psychiatrists report that children often have behavior problems resulting from family conditions and abuse. There may be rape or physical violence involved. In many cases, the doctor does not properly investigate those issues before prescribing these drugs.

One of these children was a 3 year old placed on 3 different adult behavior drugs. Finally after some time, the child was seen by another doctor who reviewed the child's family life. It turned out the teen mother had several abusive boyfriends. When mom got counseling and improved, the child got better.

Some of these children may have undiagnosed learning disabilities that could be treated with other therapies not drugs. There may be allergy or diet problems causing negative behaviors as well. Those areas should be explored first before giving dangerous drugs.

There are children who have parents with drug problems, financial problems, are homeless, alcohol problems, marital problems, abuse problems, and more. It's so much easier and quicker for the doctor to prescribe drugs then take the time to explore other possible issues behind the child's behavior problems.

Many young teens today cannot deal with the pressure of peers and life. They need counseling not drugs to effectively learn how to manage in life. Parents often don't know where to begin. They go to their doctor who immediately places them on drugs. That may be easier, but is not the best solution for any child no matter what age.

Childhood behavior problems are not a deficiency of Risperdal or any other drug.

Other Alternative Therapies:

Homeopathy offer treatments for ADD, ADHD, and other behavior problems.

Orthomolecular Medicine which includes amino acid therapy, nutrition therapy, and vitamin therapy offers successful treatment for children with these disorders.

There are more links in the references below to further aid you in your research of these subjects. Please explore options other than drugs to help your children get well. Use drugs as the last resort of therapy.

References:

The New York Times Report, 5-10-2007, Psychiatrists, Children and the Drug Industry's Role, by Gardiner Harris, Benedict Carey and Janet Roberts

This report by the Education Reporter, 1-2009, Antipsychotic Medicines For Children Come Under Suspicion,

Report by USA Today published on 5-02-2006, Adult Antipsychotics Can Worsen Troubles,

http://organizedwisdom.com/The_Huxley_Institute_for_Biosocial_Research_Orthomolecular_Psychiatry/145964/242471/health

http://www.adhdnews.com/homeopathic-adhd.htm

http://www.adhd-information.org/brightspark-herbal-remedy-add-treatment.php?ysmchn=YSM&ysmcpn=Overture+M-A&ysmgrp=BrightSpark_mini&ysmtac=PPC&ysmtrm=natural%20herbs%20for%20add

http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2006-05-01-adult-antipsychotics-kids_x.htm

http://www.rxcanadapharmacy.com/htmfiles/Risperdal.asp?id=1529

http://www.janssen.com/janssen/products_risperdal-autism.html

http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2006-05-02-antipsychotic-side-effects_x.htm