As of 2008, only two drugs had been approved by the FDA to treat schizophrenia in young people: risperidone and aripiprazole. However, doctors for years have been prescribing a number of antipsychotic medications to treat schizophrenia in children and adolescents. The practice of prescribing medicines that have not been FDA approved is called off-label use. Off-label use is legal, although doctors must be cautious to follow up on young people who are taking these drugs.
Some side effects of antipsychotic medications are serious. In 2010, the National Institute of Mental Health reported that young people frequently change and discontinue use of antipsychotic medications because of unpleasant side effects. Frequent monitoring of the child is important to reduce potentially harmful side effects.
As of 2008, only two drugs had been approved by the FDA to treat
schizophrenia in young people: risperidone and aripiprazole.
However, doctors for years have been prescribing a number of
antipsychotic medications to treat schizophrenia in...
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Dr. Douglas Severance answered:As of 2008, only two drugs had been approved by the FDA to treat schizophrenia in young people: risperidone and aripiprazole. However, doctors for years have been prescribing a number of antipsychotic medications to treat schizophrenia in children and adolescents. The practice of prescribing medicines that have not been FDA approved is called off-label use. Off-label use is legal, although doctors must be cautious to follow up on young people who are taking these drugs.