Medco Health Solutions Inc. recently stated that 7% of children are on more than one prescription drug. Little research has been done on how this affects a child’s body.
Significant numbers of doctors and parents are concerned about prescribing drugs to young children but schools are filled with prescription medications. Research is available for how these drugs affect the adult body but the same is not available on growing bodies. How these drugs will affect the life span of children is unknown. Should caution be advised?
Children on Prescription Medications Is Growing
In December of 2010, the Wall Street Journal reported on the latest findings by Medco Health Solutions Inc. on children and medication. Approximately, one out of four children and 30% of teenagers between ages of 10 and 19 are taking medications for a chronic condition. Almost 7% are on more than one medication. The chief medical officer at Medco, Dr. Robert Epstein, states that these results were absolutely shocking to Medco.
The most popular medications prescribed are:
- Asthma drugs, 45,388,000 (ages 0-9—28,252,000, ages 10-19—17,136,000)
- ADHD drugs, 24,357,000 (ages 0-9—7,018,000, ages 10-19—17,339,000)
- Antidepressants, 9,614,000 (ages 0-9—1,026,000, ages 10-19—8,588,000)
- Antipsychotics, 6,546,000 (ages 0-9—1,396,000, ages 10-19—5,150,000)
- Antihypertensives (high blood pressure) 5,224,000, (ages 0-9—1,819,000, ages 10-19—3,405,000)
- Sleep aids, 307,000 (ages 0-9—14,000, ages 10-19 293,000)
- Non-insulin diabetes, 424,000 (ages 0-9—30,000, ages 10-19—394,000)
- Statins (high cholesterol), 94,000 (ages 0-9—11,000, ages 10-19—83,000)
These medications are growing in large numbers with little knowledge about the effects they could have children now or into adulthood.
More Research Confirms Increasing Medication Statistics for Children
IMS Health, a research firm, confirms the Medco findings.IMS Health provided The Wall Street Journal with similar statistics. Awareness of which medications are available for medical concerns is being credited for the increases in medications being prescribed for children. However, this does not eliminate the concern that testing has not been done on how these medications affect the pediatric population.
Pediatrics professor from Duke University, Danny Benjamin, is concerned that drug companies have no incentive to research the effect of their drugs on children. Dosages and side-effects are of little concern once a drug has been approved for sale. It is up to parents to note if the dosage is correct and watch for side-effects. The FDA website,Pub Med, holds current research results and collects clinical guidelines from groups like the American Academy of Pediatrics.
Medco Concerned about Childhood Obesity
Obesity and the increase in medication in children could be a direct link for the dramatic increase in medications being prescribed. Drugs used to lower cholesterol taken by 10-19 year olds is 50% higher than only a decade ago. There was a 147% increase in the number of children being prescribed proton pump inhibitors which are treatments for heartburn and gastroesophageal reflux disease or GERD.
Are Medications Causing Obesity and Diabetes?
Antipsychotics are serious medications and should not be given without strongly considering the side-effects. Some antipsychotics such as Abilify, Zyprexa and Seroquel state side-effect could include signs of diabetes and large or rapid weight gain. The concern is that statins, antihypertensives are being prescribed to deal with the side-effects of antipsychotics. This leads to the question, “Which came first—the chicken or the egg?” Are children taking more medications to deal with side-effects of the initial medication? And, what impact does this have on their future health?
The growing concern about healthcare costs is currently on the front burner. Could these pediatric concerns be greatly reduced if childhood obesity was addressed along with proper nutrition and exercise? Prescription drugs have their place but should not be a replacement for wellness and nutrition.
Source: Dr. Claudia Anrig
Barbara Pytel - Email me Experience Although I was never particularly fond of going to school as an ELL student, I ironically became a teacher, ...
