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Child's Ordeal Shows Dangers of Antipsychotic Drugs - NYTimes.com

Seeded on Mon Sep 6, 2010 12:14 PM EDT
Read ArticleArticle Source: The New York Times
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Seeded by spudpundit
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OPELOUSAS, La. — At 18 months, Kyle Warren started taking a daily antipsychotic drug on the orders of a pediatrician trying to quell the boy's severe temper tantrums.

Thus began a troubled toddler's journey from one doctor to another, from one diagnosis to another, involving even more drugs. Autism, bipolar disorder, hyperactivity, insomnia, oppositional defiant disorder. The boy's daily pill regimen multiplied: the antipsychotic Risperdal, the antidepressant Prozac, two sleeping medicines and one for attention-deficit disorder. All by the time he was 3.

He was sedated, drooling and overweight from the side effects of the antipsychotic medicine. Although his mother, Brandy Warren, had been at her "wit's end" when she resorted to the drug treatment, she began to worry about Kyle's altered personality. "All I had was a medicated little boy," Ms. Warren said. "I didn't have my son. It's like, you'd look into his eyes and you would just see just blankness."

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spudpundit

If nothing else, this article shows the dangers of leaving psychiatric diagnoses to general practitioners, especially for children. Getting an accurate diagnosis of childhood disorders is one of the toughest challenges for parents. I get the sense that most of what GPs know about the use of psychiatric medicines is pretty much received from drug reps while on the run between patients. It's not an area of expertise, and adult medications often have completely different impacts on children and aren't usually tested on them.

  • 1 vote
Reply#1 - Mon Sep 6, 2010 12:39 PM EDT
bmx mom-902413

I can't believe she would let the doctor put her son on heavy dangerous medication because she was overwhelmed and didn't know how to parent. There are parenting classes out there, she definately needs one.

What are these doctors thinking when they make a diagnosis as justification for giving a small child adult drugs. Maybe some of these doctors need to have thier licences reviewed.

Boys are rambuctious and full of energy, they're boys. IMO 18 months is too young to accurately diagnose any kind of mental illness.

    Reply#2 - Tue Sep 7, 2010 1:00 PM EDT
    spudpundit

    I can't believe she would let the doctor put her son on heavy dangerous medication because she was overwhelmed and didn't know how to parent.

    Well, she gets some responsibility but the physician is quite an enabler on this situation. He could have easily given her some type of referral, but he went right for the money situation and gave a ridiculous diagnosis.

    • 1 vote
    #2.1 - Tue Sep 7, 2010 7:00 PM EDT
    Reply
    TeiwazSpiritWarrior

    Did any of the doctors ever find out what was causing the child's behavior? Are is it now to late because of all the drugs they have given this poor child. Boy, got a problem with your kid? Just knock him back with pills. Such a sad story.

    • 1 vote
    Reply#3 - Mon Sep 13, 2010 7:16 PM EDT
    spudpundit

    Did any of the doctors ever find out what was causing the child's behavior?

    It appears it was just plain-old Attention Deficit Disorder. No explanation for why the doctors went right for the heavy-drug diagnosis, other than that most General Practitioners seem to get their psychiatric training from drug reps with bachelor degrees.

      #3.1 - Mon Sep 13, 2010 7:20 PM EDT
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