Sign-in to Ask A Doctor - 24x7
OR
Sign in with Google
Are Prozac And Risperdal Lethal In Children?
Question: Is Prozan and Risperdal dangerous to give children and teens? Could it possible interfere with healthy brain development? Could it possible lower IQ? Just now I am realizing it after I was given both drugs as a child, and contemplating whether or not to XXXXXXX
Brief Answer:
they can be given
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Thanks for writing to us.
Prozac (fluoxetine) is the only SSRI drug approved for use in children more than 7 years. Risperidone(risperdal) can be given in children more than 5 years with autism ans behavioral problems.
No specific scientific evidences are there that it can affect brain development. Brain development occurs generally up to age 8 years and after that some modification in brain occurs until age of 16. But they do not affect the IQ when used appropriately after recommended age.
Hope I have answered your query, I will be happy to help further.
Regards,
Dr.Chintan Solanki.
they can be given
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Thanks for writing to us.
Prozac (fluoxetine) is the only SSRI drug approved for use in children more than 7 years. Risperidone(risperdal) can be given in children more than 5 years with autism ans behavioral problems.
No specific scientific evidences are there that it can affect brain development. Brain development occurs generally up to age 8 years and after that some modification in brain occurs until age of 16. But they do not affect the IQ when used appropriately after recommended age.
Hope I have answered your query, I will be happy to help further.
Regards,
Dr.Chintan Solanki.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
According to research I've done online brain development does not finish developing until 8. The prefrontal cortex doesn't fully mature until the early 20s. Prozac and Risperdal both mess with the brain synapses and there very well be a possibility that these drugs can hinder normal and healthy brain development.
Should I do an MRI scan do see for any drug induced abnormalities, and if so XXXXXXX the psychiatric responsible for the damage?
Should I do an MRI scan do see for any drug induced abnormalities, and if so XXXXXXX the psychiatric responsible for the damage?
Brief Answer:
You can go for MRI
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thanks for follow up.
Yes I also wrote the same that brain development occurs up to age of 8 and after that modification and maturity of structure. It is also possible that if drugs had not been given for respective problem, brain maturity might have affected due to problem itself.
You can go for MRI for your assurance as these drugs do not affect brain structures and MRI will come normal.
If your doctor has given drugs with proper evaluation and FDA guidelines, your allegation will be rejected.
All the best.
You can go for MRI
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thanks for follow up.
Yes I also wrote the same that brain development occurs up to age of 8 and after that modification and maturity of structure. It is also possible that if drugs had not been given for respective problem, brain maturity might have affected due to problem itself.
You can go for MRI for your assurance as these drugs do not affect brain structures and MRI will come normal.
If your doctor has given drugs with proper evaluation and FDA guidelines, your allegation will be rejected.
All the best.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
How is that possible for it not to permanently affect the brain? It literally changes the chemicals inside the brain, and as we all know, the brain develops in accordance to the environment. Do you have any explanation?
Brief Answer:
neurochemical changes do not modify anatomy
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Sorry for delayed response.
Neurochemical changes are not permanent. As soon as you withdraw the drugs these changes revert back. Theses neurochmeical changes do not affect brain anatomy. For example when you add salt to water it becomes salty in taste but you cannot check it by just seeing the water. If you filter that water electrodes you can clear the salt from it and during that basic water retains its property.
Hope you got the point.
neurochemical changes do not modify anatomy
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Sorry for delayed response.
Neurochemical changes are not permanent. As soon as you withdraw the drugs these changes revert back. Theses neurochmeical changes do not affect brain anatomy. For example when you add salt to water it becomes salty in taste but you cannot check it by just seeing the water. If you filter that water electrodes you can clear the salt from it and during that basic water retains its property.
Hope you got the point.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Really? It reverts completely back without leaving a trace? Because one of the known side effects of Risperdal is Tardive dyskinesia, and it stays forever.
Tardive dyskinesia is a permanent side effect of atypical antipsychotics that doesn't go away with withdrawal. So what you are saying about the changes reverting back is clearly not true.
Also, another extremely important question: Does Prozac and/or Risperdal stunt height growth? This is an extremely concerning side effect. Would you stunt your children's growth? I don't think so. So do either of them or both of them stunt height growth?
Here are some articles that discuss studies about use of psychiatric drugs on pediatric patients.
Antidepressants and Adolescent Brain Development: http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/753055_3
Should children be given Prozac?: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-390374/Should-children-given-Prozac.html
Why are you saying one thing, and these studies saying something totally different? Medical school seems to brainwash students to believe that everything is safe as long as you follow the instructions provided by the Big Pharma companies. That's clearly not true. Remember the birth defect crisis in the 60s caused by Thalidomide? Yeah... the company didn't even test this drug on pregnant animals to see if it's suitable to use in pregnancy.
Please read the two articles I provided.
Tardive dyskinesia is a permanent side effect of atypical antipsychotics that doesn't go away with withdrawal. So what you are saying about the changes reverting back is clearly not true.
Also, another extremely important question: Does Prozac and/or Risperdal stunt height growth? This is an extremely concerning side effect. Would you stunt your children's growth? I don't think so. So do either of them or both of them stunt height growth?
Here are some articles that discuss studies about use of psychiatric drugs on pediatric patients.
Antidepressants and Adolescent Brain Development: http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/753055_3
Should children be given Prozac?: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-390374/Should-children-given-Prozac.html
Why are you saying one thing, and these studies saying something totally different? Medical school seems to brainwash students to believe that everything is safe as long as you follow the instructions provided by the Big Pharma companies. That's clearly not true. Remember the birth defect crisis in the 60s caused by Thalidomide? Yeah... the company didn't even test this drug on pregnant animals to see if it's suitable to use in pregnancy.
Please read the two articles I provided.
Brief Answer:
tardive dyskinesia does not occur in all patients
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Yes you are right that tardive dyskinesia(TD) does not go way even after stopping the drug. But do you know that all patients taking risperidone do not have it. In my practice I come across only 3-4% of the patients taking risperidone have TD. So something in patients' brain also that reacts with drug otherwise all patients should suffer from TD.
There are no confirming evidence that these drugs causes stunted growth. And sometime use of drug depends on benefit /risk ratio. If child is not given the drug he/she may suffer more.
I have checked both articles. One is very old article of 2006. I have used both the drugs in many pediatric patients without such side effects. And believe me in children there is probably no alternative to fluoxetine for indicated reason. Other article mentions use of SSRI more in adolescent than in children.
You are absolutely right that we must not believe pharma companies. I am saying all with personal clinical experience.
You can go for MRI brain as well as IQ assessment for assurance.
All the best.
tardive dyskinesia does not occur in all patients
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Yes you are right that tardive dyskinesia(TD) does not go way even after stopping the drug. But do you know that all patients taking risperidone do not have it. In my practice I come across only 3-4% of the patients taking risperidone have TD. So something in patients' brain also that reacts with drug otherwise all patients should suffer from TD.
There are no confirming evidence that these drugs causes stunted growth. And sometime use of drug depends on benefit /risk ratio. If child is not given the drug he/she may suffer more.
I have checked both articles. One is very old article of 2006. I have used both the drugs in many pediatric patients without such side effects. And believe me in children there is probably no alternative to fluoxetine for indicated reason. Other article mentions use of SSRI more in adolescent than in children.
You are absolutely right that we must not believe pharma companies. I am saying all with personal clinical experience.
You can go for MRI brain as well as IQ assessment for assurance.
All the best.
Note: For further guidance on mental health, Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
Get personalised answers from verified doctor in minutes across 80+ specialties
