Are we giving children too many prescription drugs?
.... Depakote is an anti-seizure medication and is effective in treating mania. b. Zyprexa i. This medication is a mood stabilizer that balances the levels of serotonin and dopamine in the brain. II. What is the Pharmaceutical Company’s point of view A. The pharmacy company wants money. 1. The pharmaceutical company has an agreement with doctor’s offices to prescribe their product. 2. The more advertisements that are out, the more people are aware of their product and how it can help the patient. B. Pharmaceutical companies allow more employment opportunities for people 1. Researchers 2. Sales people 3. Factory workers C. Benefits 1. The medications do provide relief for the patient, and help the individual become well. 2. They aren’t in it just for the money; they are trying to help people. III. What is the Health Care’s point of view A. The emotional and monetary costs of children being placed on prescriptions. 1. Many of the families whose child and/ or children are on these medications cannot afford to pay the monthly prescription bills. The pharmaceutical companies charge a pretty penny for their creations, and parents without insurance cannot pay the outrageous prices. 2. Also, many of the doctors that prescribe the medication are regular M.D.s, not a psychiatrist or psycho pharmacologist, who has more experience in diagnosing these conditions. This is largely due to the fact that a trip to the psychiatrist every month begins to add up. 3. There have been cases where schools have threatened to expel students if the student was not placed on Ritalin, even though the child had not been diagnosed by a doctor. This places an emotional burden on the family. B. The increasing percentage of children on medication. 1. According to Dr. Laura Thompson, children are second only to senior citizens as the fastest growing group of prescription drug takers. In fact, it has been proven that these children are spending 34% more time on medication then in previous years. 2. The Department of Health shows that in 2002, there were approximately 208,000 prescriptions issued for Ritalin, compared to the 92,000 in 1997. 3. In 1996, there were 30 million prescriptions written for ear infections, a 150% increase since 1982. 4. Many of the medications given to children have been approved for adults but not for children, yet doctors are still prescribing these meds. C. The risks and side effects of medications 1. One major side effect of Lexapro is that in order for it to work correctly it artificially manipulates the chemical responsible for feeling and thought. 2. In cases where there is a mood disorder, children don’t learn how to manage stress and difficult situations without the use of medications. 3. Drugs have a tendency to play around with the cerebral tissue of the brain which hasn’t fully developed yet in a child. 4. Not to mention, there are serious side effects such as decrease appetite, weight gain, nausea, constipation, and some medications can enough become addicting. IV. Alternative methods for treating children A. Counseling children instead of or along with prescription medications. 1. Many health care professionals, along with pharmaceutical companies, believe that counseling should go hand in hand with prescription medications. However, many doctors neglect to tell patients this. 2. Significant results showed in children who had talk therapy compared to those who didn’t. B. Giving children less medication. 1. Instead of prescribing medications to our children every time they have an ear ache or a cold, we should try over the counter remedies first. 2. Become aware of the difference between a viral and bacterial infection. Too many kids are being medication for something that medicine cannot help. Only bacterial infections benefit from medication, not viral. Therefore, we need to better educate ourselves. 3. When picking up prescriptions for children, a...