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Rapid Weight Gain in Children Taking Antipsychotic Drugs

Weight gain has long been recognized as a common and unwelcome side effect of many medications. Last week, Duff Wilson of the New York Times, reported the findings of a recent study showing alarming rates of weight gain in children and adolescents who take some of the most popular ‘new generati...
11/ 4/09 5:56pm

Yes, the medication does increase weight. My 19 year old started taking Seroquel, 50 mg in May,up to 100 mg by October. She has packed on 30 pounds since, and looks terrible. She is feeling better however, but her appetite is ferocious and is just always in the refrigerator. We are searching for alternative medication because now she is getting extremely conscious of her weight gain and we do not want her to quit taking the meds., but it is a catch 22. Discouraging to say the least!

Anonymous
S
11/ 4/09 7:37pm

Started out saying it was "weight neutral."  Well, EVERYONE in my support group has gained weight on Abilify.  For me 50 lbs. in 12 yrs.  Now have high cholesterol, blood pressure & blood sugar too high.  Getting off Abilify

Anonymous
tabby
11/ 4/09 10:47pm

these 4 meds have been notorious for weight gain in adults

why would it be different in children?

 

that's right, I vaguely remember now (though could very seriously be wrong and if so, I truly apologize) - they weren't intended for children to start with

then the 2 for pediatric treatment were then approved

 

so this sets up a whole generation of obese young adults with degenerative diseases with all likelihood - as well as cardiovascular and systemic and further emotional due to society's obsession with thinness cause you can't really gain weight unless you stuff your face with food too much, remember?  Has little to do with metabolic screw up from the meds you are ingesting, many docs will be happy to tell ya.

 

ooohh weight gain in teenagers and children are even worse with the peers than adults... creates that whole body dysfunctional image thingy that lasts a lifetime... creates Eating Disorders or stimulates them... yeah... way to go there

 

but then again... there are more meds out there for all those problems as well

 

course, these meds aren't always prescribed to adults or children for psychosis

 

 

 

 

 

11/12/09 4:16pm

I find it extremely distressing that children are being prescribed anti psychotic medication.  I trained in Social Work and found that children were being labelled as having ADHD when there were clearly dysfunctional relationships going on in the family that were causing the child distress; my brother's behaviour was irrationally aggressive as a child, but he was later diagnosed as having a food intolerance.  It's bad enough that adults are being told that their emotional distress is a result of a biological disease and are coerced into taking medication with a variety of unpleasant side effects; but at least we have some choice in whether we comply or not.  What sort of irresponsible parent would poison their child for a quiet life???  I know madness is subjective, but surely this is insanity. 

Anonymous
distraught parent
4/15/10 6:54pm

"What sort of irresponsible parent would poison their child for a quiet life???"

 

The sort that is entirely too common in today's society- narcissistic, selfish, unfit parents who have never had to work a day in their lives and don't give a hoot about their own children. I know, I've got a daughter who gives my grandbaby Lunesta and Ambien for convenience, and to avoid the responsibility of actually raising her child.

4/16/10 2:17pm

It's really sad to hear that, you must feel really powerless.  My previous comment perhaps wasn't very tactful, but perhaps in some cases it's true.  I have bi polar and as an adult I have some choices; I have recently got a good psychiatrist who I can work with.  I'm also from the UK and as far as I'm aware psychiatric labels and medicine for children is limited to ADHD....still, I think it is an over used label and is sometimes a substitute for other types of support or intervention which may be more appropriate.  I really hope we don't follow America in finding other psychiatric labels for children and that the US sees sense in changing their current practices.  I don't want to sound judgemental, but I believe psychiatric meds for children does more harm than good. 

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