Off-Label Prescriptions Raise Fears of Pharmaceutical Industry Influence

A class of drugs called atypical antipsychotics are prescribed to more than half a million children in the United States. The drugs, however, are almost completely unapproved for use in minors, and many worry that their widespread use is supported less by science than pharmaceutical industry kickbacks:

Created for schizophrenia, Risperdal is not approved to treat eating disorders, but increased appetite is a common side effect and doctors may prescribe drugs as they see fit. Anya gained weight but within two years developed a crippling knot in her back. She now receives regular injections of Botox to unclench her back muscles. She often awakens crying in pain.

Isabella Bailey, Anya’s mother, said she had no idea that children might be especially susceptible to Risperdal’s side effects. Nor did she know that Risperdal and similar medicines were not approved at the time to treat children, or that medical trials often cited to justify the use of such drugs had as few as eight children taking the drug by the end.

Just as surprising, Ms. Bailey said, was learning that the university psychiatrist who supervised Anya’s care received more than $7,000 from
2003 to 2004 from Johnson & Johnson, Risperdal’s maker, in return for lectures about one of the company’s drugs.

Psychiatrists, Children and Drug Industry’s Role [New York Times]

Image: Aaron