NEWS ALERT: FDA Advisory Panel Recommends Antipsychotic Seroquel for Use in Teens

A panel of medical experts who advise the Food and Drug Administration on the safety and effectiveness of drugs has just announced that Seroquel, the potent antipsychotic already used in adults, should be approved for use in teens.

AstraZeneca, the maker of Seroquel, has asked for approval of broader uses of the drug for treatment of schizophrenia. The advisory FDA panel overwhelmingly found that Seroquel is a useful treatment for adolescents between the ages of 13 and 17.

Later today, the same panel is expected to announce a recommendation for the use of Seroquel for pediatric bipolar disorder and whether Zyprexa and another similar drug, called Geodon, are similarly safe for younger patients.

While the FDA is not required to follow the advice of its advisory panels, it most often does. A final ruling on the adolescent use of the drugs could be announced in the coming weeks.

Seroquel and other antipsychotics are big money makers for drug companies and are the top-selling class of prescription drugs in the United States.

As many as 2.4 million Americans are diagnosed with schizophrenia, a disorder which causes delusional thoughts, hallucinations, and aggressive social interaction. Another 5.7 million Americans battle bipolar disorder, which results in wide and unpredictable mood swings.

However, Seroquel and other antipsychotics have been associated with severe side effects, including diabetes and weight gain.

No related posts.