High-Dose Antipsychotics Raise Kids’ Risk of Unexpected Death

 ADHD in the News 2018-12-13


Investigators at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, Tennessee, found the risk of death associated with off-label antipsychotic use at doses higher than 50 mg in patients age 5 to 24 years was 3.5-fold greater than their counterparts not receiving antipsychotics. Child and adolescent psychiatrists already exercise "a great deal of caution" when prescribing antipsychotics in young people and can refer to guidelines for evaluation and monitoring when using these drugs, lead author, Wayne A. Ray, PhD, professor, Department of Health Policy, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, told Medscape Medical News.