quetiapine-fumarate and Endocrine-System-Diseases

Despite increasing use of psychotropic medications in children and adolescents, data regarding their efficacy and safety are limited. Endocrine and metabolic adverse effects are among the most concerning adverse effects of commonly used psychotropic medications.. Selective review of endocrine and metabolic effects of psychotropic medications in pediatric populations, with a focus on monitoring and management strategies.. Because youth are still developing at the time of psychotropic drug exposure, most reference values need to be adjusted for gender and age. As in adults, youngsters receiving lithium require monitoring for thyroid dysfunction. Psychostimulants appear to cause mild reversible growth retardation in some patients, most likely because of decreased weight or slowing of expected weight gain; some patients may experience clinically significant reductions in adult height. Although still controversial, valproate use has been associated with an increased risk for polycystic ovary syndrome, in addition to causing weight gain. Although more data are required, children and adolescents appear to be at higher risk than adults for antipsychotic-induced hyperprolactinemia, weight gain, and possibly, associated metabolic abnormalities, which is of particular concern.. Clinicians and caregivers need to be aware of potential endocrine and metabolic adverse effects of psychiatric medications. A careful selection of patients, choice of agents with potentially lesser risk for these adverse events, healthy lifestyle counseling, as well as close health monitoring are warranted to maximize effectiveness and safety.

Topics: Adolescent; Antipsychotic Agents; Child; Dibenzothiazepines; Drug Administration Schedule; Endocrine System Diseases; Female; Humans; Hyperprolactinemia; Life Style; Lithium Compounds; Male; Metabolic Diseases; Polycystic Ovary Syndrome; Psychotic Disorders; Quetiapine Fumarate; Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors; Valproic Acid; Weight Gain

There are now five new-generation atypical psychiatric medications currently available. As these new treatments have become more common, they have grown to account for a significant percentage of all psychiatric medications prescribed. This is because of their efficacy in the treatment of several psychiatric disorders, ease of administration, and absence of the well-known extrapyramidal adverse effects long-attributed to the standard dopamine blocking anti-psychotic medications. As these medications have become treatments of choice, we have discovered additional information about their respective side effects. Issues such as bone marrow suppression, endocrine abnormalities, and most recently cardiac arrhythmia have produced concern. This paper will address all in an attempt to inform the primary care physician of the most prominent and clinically relevant adverse effects of these agents. A particular focus will address the increasing concern that these new medications can produce hyperglycemia and diabetes mellitus.

Topics: Adult; Aged; Antipsychotic Agents; Arrhythmias, Cardiac; Benzodiazepines; Black or African American; Bone Marrow Diseases; Child; Dibenzothiazepines; Endocrine System Diseases; Humans; Mental Disorders; Nervous System Diseases; Olanzapine; Piperazines; Pirenzepine; Primary Health Care; Quetiapine Fumarate; Risperidone; Thiazoles