The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in August approved – for the first time – a drug to treat teens diagnosed with schizophrenia or bipolar disorder, also known as manic depression. The drug is risperidone (Risperdal), already approved for adults diagnosed with these conditions. The drug is likely to be the first of several in the class called “antipsychotics” to get the FDA’s nod for use in young people.

This development is likely to sharply increase the number of children and teens prescribed antipsychotics – a practice already common even though the FDA had not officially sanctioned it until now.

The FDA’s action also comes amid new research indicating that the number of children and teens in the U.S. treated for bipolar disorder has increased dramatically since the early 1990s – from around 20,000 in 1994 to close to 1 million today.

If you are the parent of a child or teen who has been diagnosed with either schizophrenia or bipolar disorder, you may have already been thrown into the maelstrom of debate surrounding the use of these powerful medicines in young people, and the debate about the diagnosis itself.

For example, some doctors and experts believe bipolar disorder can not be reliably diagnosed in children and young teens. The condition has different symptoms in kids and teens compared to adults. It also shares some symptoms with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Indeed, some children get diagnosed with both conditions and prescribed different kinds of drugs to treat both.

We urge caution. Get a second and even third opinion if a physician or psychiatrist has diagnosed your child or teen with either bipolar disorder or schizophrenia and recommended an antipsychotic. Get literature on the antipsychotic drugs, and visit non–drug company Web sites to learn about them. Pay close attention to the information about side effects. All the antipsychotics have potent side effects that affect a substantial number of people who take them. These include weight gain, tremors, drowsiness, slurred speech, constipation, lack of coordination, muscle weakness, blurred vision, abnormal menstruation, and anxiety.

A report on this Web site (www.CRBestBuyDrugs.org) analyzes the antipsychotics as prescribed for adults. But this information has relevance for children and teens. The report concludes that the drugs have a highly variable affect in treating people with schizophrenia. That is, they help some people considerably but others much less so. And many people do not get a benefit that outweighs the inconvenience and discomfort of the side effects. Many people stop taking the medicines because of side effects.

The report also concludes that the antipsychotics are usually a poor first choice to treat bipolar disorder – with other drugs having a better track record for initial use to relieve symptoms and stabilize mood.

In addition, the report concludes that one older low–cost antipsychotic – perphenazine – has been shown in studies to be as effective and safe as several of the newer and much more expensive drugs – should your doctor and you decide that an antipsychotic is appropriate for your child or teen.

A second report on this Web site discusses the use of anticonvulsant drugs to treat bipolar disorder. We urge you to read that as well.