Report flags spike in kids taking antipsychotics
23rd March 2015
Prescription shopping and off-label use may be behind a rise of atypical antipsychotic use in Australian children, says a Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee (PBAC) report.
The report by PBAC’s drug use subcommittee shows an overall 54% increase in PBS prescriptions of risperidone, quetiapine and olanzapine between 2008 and 2011.
Quetiapine scripts increased by 138%, followed by risperidone (46%) and olanzapine (8%).
Changes to diagnostic criteria for BPD allowing for greater use of antipsychotics, coupled with a belief that atypical antipsychotics