The World Health Organization loosely defines psychotropic drugs as a group of medications that act on the central nervous system and affect mental processes or cognition. Psychotropic medications include antidepressants, stimulants, antipsychotics, mood stabilizers and medications used to treat movement disorders such as epilepsy. Due to a lack of safety studies, the FDA approves few psychotropic medications for use with children.
Antidepressants
Fluoxetine, or Prozac, is the only antidepressant medication approved for use with children by the FDA, explains MayoClinic.com. It is approved for children from age 7 and up. The typical starting dose is 10 mg the first week with an increase to 20 mg after that, according to the PDRHealth.com. An analysis performed by the FDA found that antidepressants caused an increase in suicidal thoughts in about 4 percent of children in the test group, compared to 2 percent taking a placebo. Although none of the children actually committed suicide, the FDA was concerned enough to require antidepressant manufacturers to label the drugs with warnings about the potential risk in children.
Antipsychotics
The National Institute of Mental Health, or NIMH, describes antipsychotic medications as a type of drug used to treat schizophrenia, manic episodes and other related disorders. Aripiprazole, sold under the brand name Abilify, is approved for children age 13 and older for treatment of schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. Pimozide, or Orap, can be given to children age 12 and up for treatment of Tourette's syndrome. Risperidone, sold as Risperdal, is approved for children ages 5 to 16 for the treatment of irritability associated with autism, 10 and older for bipolar disorder and 13 and older for schizophrenia.
Mood Stabilizers and Anticonvulsant Medications
Mood stabilizers treat bipolar disorder as well as other mood disorders, impulse control disorders and aggressive behavior, according to the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry. Anticonvulsants treat movement disorders such as epilepsy. Certain medications serve both purposes, but FDA approval may only apply to one use. Divalproex sodium, sold as Depakote, is approved for children ages 2 and older for treatment of seizures, but it is also used in adults to treat manic episodes. Lithium citrate and lithium carbonate can be used for either purpose in children ages 12 and up. Carbamazepine, or Tegretol, is approved for any age to treat seizures.
ADHD Medications
NIMH explains that most ADHD medications approved for children are stimulants. The exception is atomoxetine, sold under the brand name Strattera. Strattera is approved for children age 6 and older and is given when stimulants do not work. Amphetamines, or Adderal, and dextroamphetamine, sold as Dextostat and Dexedrine, are approved for children age 3 and up. Methylphenidate, or Ritalin, and methamphetamines can be given to children age 6 and older.
References
- World Health Organization: Lexicon of Alcohol and Drug Terms Published by the World Health Organization
- Mayo Clinic: Antidepressants for Children
- PDRHealth: Prozac
- National Institute of Mental Health: Mental Health Medications
- American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry: Medications for Children and Adolescent
