Insomniac children being prescribed unsafe medications--study

Researchers from Warren Alpert Medical School (Brown Medical School), Brown University, U.S. found that physicians are increasingly taking help of over-the-counter antihistamines and antipsychotic medicines to treat wakefulness in children.

Boston Globe quoted lead researcher Dr. Judith Owens, Brown Medical School as saying vis-à-vis study results, “This is a very important clinical issue that is very stressful for families, and that clinicians are responding to by prescribing a variety of medications but without having a solid scientific basis to ensure that they are providing safe and effective medications for their patients.”

Research details
Researchers surveyed over 6,000 members (child and adolescent psychiatrists) of American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry to scrutinize their clinical practice patterns regarding non-prescription and prescription medication for insomnia.

Of this number, nearly 1,300 responded and admitted that virtually one-third of their patients reportedly had problems falling asleep or staying asleep.

They also admitted suggesting almost a quarter of them to use medicines to fall asleep.

On analysis, it was found that, on the whole, 96 percent clinicians admitted recommending a minimum of one sleep drug to their patients over one-month’s course.

Additionally, 88 percent physicians suggested an over-the-counter sleep medication to patients.

Other findings
It was further known that prescribed medications ranged from antihistamines to sedating medications for Attention Deficit-Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), including alpha agonists (clonidine).

The category also included antidepressant medications like trazodone along with antipsychotic and anticonvulsant drugs, depending on the psychiatric diagnosis of the child.

According to study researchers, none of the drug has been approved by Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as childhood sleep assistance.

Therefore, doctors are drawing conclusions for children from what has been known as safe and helpful for adults, stated researchers

Emax Health quoted Owens as saying, “Mental health professionals responsible for the care of children should set as a goal the establishment of an evidence-based understanding of appropriate treatment choices for insomnia.”

“Furthermore, use of other psychotropic medications, which can have significant negative effects on sleep in this population, frequently complicates clinical management of sleep issues in child psychiatry patients,” added Owens.

Owens also stated, “We need a more comprehensive understanding of insomnia in the context of psychiatric disorders in general and the impact on quality of life and long-term prognosis in these patients.”

The study appears in the journal ‘Sleep Medicine’.