Antipsychotics Linked to Childhood Diabetes

By Crystal Phend, Senior Staff Writer, MedPage Today
Published: November 21, 2011
Reviewed by Dori F. Zaleznik, MD; Associate Clinical Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston and Dorothy Caputo, MA, RN, BC-ADM, CDE, Nurse Planner

Diabetes may be substantially more likely for children taking second-generation atypical antipsychotics, according to findings from a recent study, which included a number of caveats.

Incidence of diabetes appeared to be more than four times higher among children on a second-generation antipsychotic than in those not using psychotropic medications, Susan E. Andrade, ScD, of the University of Massachusetts in Worcester, and colleagues found.

If real, the risk would pose an important drug safety and public health concern, the group noted in the December issue of Pediatrics. FULL STORY