Risperdal Approved in U.S. for Schizophrenia and Bipolar Disorder
U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Risperdal (risperidone) for treating schizophrenia in teenagers ages 13 to 17 and for treating short-term mania or mixed episodes of bipolar disorder type I in children and teens. Currently there are no FDA approved medications for treating schizophrenia in children. Up until now, Lithium was the only drug approved for treating bipolar disorder in adolescents from age 12. Risperdal is currently approved for treating schizophrenia in adults, as well as treating short term mania or mixed episodes in adults with bipolar disorder type I. Risperdal is also approved for treating irritability associated with autistic disorder in children and teens. Common side effects with Risperdal include drowsiness, fatigue, increase in appetite, anxiety, nausea, dizziness, dry mouth, tremor, and rash. Source: FDA.
Wall Street Journal’s Health Blog has an interview about this approval.
Pregnancy and Depression
I have been getting questions and comments from visitors concerned about the effects of antidepressants and psychotropic medications on pregnancy. Thus, I’ve been keeping a watchful eye on new research information published on this concern.
In the August 2007 issue of the American Journal of Psychiatry was a medical education article called, “Antenatal Depression: Navigating the Treatment Dilemmas” by Dr. Marlene P. Freeman, M.D. Dr. Freeman described 2 patient case studies - a 35-year old professional woman with major depression whose illness relapsed when she discontinued her meds after becoming pregnant. Another was a 24-year old mother who became clinical depressed 20 weeks into her pregnancy. Both women posed concerns for the doctor because of the need to weigh the potential risks to the fetus from medication side effects and the risks to the mothers from not receiving medication treatment for their bipolar disorder or depression. Read more
Selenium Supplements and Diabetes
I found this article summary of a study that found that people who took selenium supplementation increased their diabetes risk compared with people who took placebos. In case you’re wondering why you’re reading about selenium supplements and a link to diabetes on a mental health website:
1) There are patient anecdotes on taking selenium to protect against hair loss when taking certain bipolar disorder medications (I was personally given this advice by a patient via discussion group 10 years ago when I was misdiagnosed with BP and taking a BP drug that caused my hair to fall out)
2) There are studies suggesting that certain atypical psychotropic drugs used to treat bipolar disorder are linked with onset of diabetes
For those patients who “self medicate” with supplements including selenium and are taking drugs that may further increase their risk of developing diabetes, you may want to talk with your psychiatrist and make sure you let him or her know all the supplements you are taking.