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The [London] Independent - Banned drugs still being prescribed for children

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Fri, 10 Feb 2006 21:27:54 -0500

[sSRI-Research] The [London] Independent - Banned drugs still

being prescribed for children

 

 

 

 

 

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) banned

most antidepressants for those under 18 in 2003. Gang member, Colin

Downes-Grainger passes this along to the group. Colin is an artist, a

survivor, and an activist living in the UK.

 

You may see his art at

http://www.artmargin.com/otherartists/colindownesgrainger.html

 

 

 

Banned drugs still being prescribed for children

By Maxine Frith, Social Affairs Correspondent

Published: 09 February 2006

Tens of thousands of children are still being prescribed powerful

antidepressants despite guidance that they should not given to

patients under 18 because of serious safety concerns.

 

Campaigners warned that vulnerable teenagers were being treated with a

potentially dangerous " chemical cosh " of drugs because of long waiting

lists for more suitable therapies such as counselling.

 

More than 85,000 prescriptions were given to children in 2004 for

antidepressants that the regulatory agencies had ruled should only be

given to adults.

 

One in three of all child antidepressant prescriptions were for drugs

on the " banned " list drawn up by the Medicines and Healthcare products

Regulatory Agency (MHRA) in 2003.

 

The drugs, which include Seroxat and other common antidepressants

known as SSRIs (selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors) raise the

risk of emotional distress, self-harm and suicidal thoughts among

children.

 

Sophie Corlett, policy director of the mental health charity Mind,

said: " While [these drugs] may be appropriate for a few teenagers,

guidelines recommend against their use because the risks generally

outweigh the benefits. Doctors are advised to refer children for

therapy but the waiting lists are very long. "

 

The MHRA ruled in June 2003 that Seroxat should not be given to people

under 18. Six months later it added a range of other antidepressants

to the list, saying only Prozac was safe for use in children and even

then should be prescribed only as a last resort. But a parliamentary

question tabled by the Liberal Democrat MP Paul Burstow found that

85,251 prescriptions for antidepressants were written for children in

2004 for drugs on the MHRA list. They included more than 6,000

prescriptions for Seroxat; more than 27,000 prescriptions were for

children under 15. Health experts estimate that more than 40,000

children in Britain are on antidepressants.

 

Mr Burstow said: " This level of prescribing ...is evidence of the

under-investment in child and adolescent mental health services and

the chronic shortage of talking therapies. "

 

The National Institute for Clinical and Healthcare Excellence (Nice)

issued recommendations last year on how doctors should deal with

depression in children. It said children should be given advice on

diet and exercise and a three-month course of counselling, with

prescription drugs given only as a last resort.

 

However, the advice from Nice and the MHRA is not binding and allows

doctors to use their discretion when prescribing. Many are believed to

have continued prescribing antidepressants to children because of the

lack of other mental health services. A survey of GPs found that 80

per cent believed they were prescribing SSRIs to too many adults and

children.

 

A Department of Health spokeswoman said not all the prescriptions for

under-18s were for the treatment of depression and some were " used for

other disorders such as bed-wetting and phobic states " . But

campaigners say they could still cause withdrawal and other side effects.

 

'Sarah', student, 22: 'Weaning myself was the most agonising experience'

 

'Sarah' was first given antidepressants by her GP at the age of 15. It

took seven years to wean herself off the drugs.

 

" I had my GCSEs coming up. A relationship had broken up and I thought

the doctor might be able to help with counselling. He just wrote a

prescription. "

 

Sarah was prescribed Efexor, an antidepressant which was included on

the banned list for children in 2003. She was not warned of the side

effects and, despite being only 15, was judged competent to be treated

without her parents' knowledge. She said: " The pills did make me feel

better but my circumstances had also changed. " She repeatedly told her

doctor she wanted to stop the pills but he advised her to carry on.

Last year she decided to wean herself off them. " It was the most

agonising experience of my life. "

 

Sarah is now on a low dose of Prozac and says she would never take

antidepressants again. " I feel really angry I was put on them in the

first place. "

 

Tens of thousands of children are still being prescribed powerful

antidepressants despite guidance that they should not given to

patients under 18 because of serious safety concerns.

 

Campaigners warned that vulnerable teenagers were being treated with a

potentially dangerous " chemical cosh " of drugs because of long waiting

lists for more suitable therapies such as counselling.

 

More than 85,000 prescriptions were given to children in 2004 for

antidepressants that the regulatory agencies had ruled should only be

given to adults.

 

One in three of all child antidepressant prescriptions were for drugs

on the " banned " list drawn up by the Medicines and Healthcare products

Regulatory Agency (MHRA) in 2003.

 

The drugs, which include Seroxat and other common antidepressants

known as SSRIs (selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors) raise the

risk of emotional distress, self-harm and suicidal thoughts among

children.

 

Sophie Corlett, policy director of the mental health charity Mind,

said: " While [these drugs] may be appropriate for a few teenagers,

guidelines recommend against their use because the risks generally

outweigh the benefits. Doctors are advised to refer children for

therapy but the waiting lists are very long. "

 

The MHRA ruled in June 2003 that Seroxat should not be given to people

under 18. Six months later it added a range of other antidepressants

to the list, saying only Prozac was safe for use in children and even

then should be prescribed only as a last resort. But a parliamentary

question tabled by the Liberal Democrat MP Paul Burstow found that

85,251 prescriptions for antidepressants were written for children in

2004 for drugs on the MHRA list. They included more than 6,000

prescriptions for Seroxat; more than 27,000 prescriptions were for

children under 15. Health experts estimate that more than 40,000

children in Britain are on antidepressants.

 

Mr Burstow said: " This level of prescribing ...is evidence of the

under-investment in child and adolescent mental health services and

the chronic shortage of talking therapies. "

 

The National Institute for Clinical and Healthcare Excellence (Nice)

issued recommendations last year on how doctors should deal with

depression in children. It said children should be given advice on

diet and exercise and a three-month course of counselling, with

prescription drugs given only as a last resort.

 

However, the advice from Nice and the MHRA is not binding and allows

doctors to use their discretion when prescribing. Many are believed to

have continued prescribing antidepressants to children because of the

lack of other mental health services. A survey of GPs found that 80

per cent believed they were prescribing SSRIs to too many adults and

children.

 

A Department of Health spokeswoman said not all the prescriptions for

under-18s were for the treatment of depression and some were " used for

other disorders such as bed-wetting and phobic states " . But

campaigners say they could still cause withdrawal and other side effects.

 

'Sarah', student, 22: 'Weaning myself was the most agonising experience'

 

'Sarah' was first given antidepressants by her GP at the age of 15. It

took seven years to wean herself off the drugs.

 

" I had my GCSEs coming up. A relationship had broken up and I thought

the doctor might be able to help with counselling. He just wrote a

prescription. "

 

Sarah was prescribed Efexor, an antidepressant which was included on

the banned list for children in 2003. She was not warned of the side

effects and, despite being only 15, was judged competent to be treated

without her parents' knowledge. She said: " The pills did make me feel

better but my circumstances had also changed. " She repeatedly told her

doctor she wanted to stop the pills but he advised her to carry on.

Last year she decided to wean herself off them. " It was the most

agonising experience of my life. "

 

Sarah is now on a low dose of Prozac and says she would never take

antidepressants again. " I feel really angry I was put on them in the

first place. "

 

© 2006 Independent News and Media Limited

 

 

 

 

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