Diabetes link to antipsychotic use in adolescents

Date: Aug-22-2013Children and adolescents prescribed antipsychotic medications may be at higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes, according to a study published in JAMA Psychiatry.

Researchers from the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine in Nashville, TN, conducted a study of children and youths between 6 and 24 years of age, who were a part of the Tennessee Medicaid program between 1996 and 2007.

In the analysis, 28,858 children and youths were recently prescribed antipsychotic drugs, while 14,429 control patients were prescribed alternative psychotropic medication.

Antipsychotic drugs are commonly used in patients with schizophrenia and dementia to help with symptoms such as aggression, hallucinations and agitation. They are also used to treat nausea, vomiting and intractable hiccup.

Information published in Prescriber Update shows that a higher risk of type 2 diabetes among adults with schizophrenia is already known, and that adult use of antipsychotic drugs raises this risk further.

According to the Vanderbilt researchers, these drugs are increasingly being prescribed to children and adolescents, but until now, there has been no extensive evidence to suggest younger people are at increased risk of diabetes through the use of antipsychotics.

'Three-times more likely' to develop diabetes

The findings showed that overall, there were 106 incident cases of type 2 diabetes during the follow-up period.

The mean age of the patients was 16.7 years, and 37% of the patients were male.

The patients who used antipsychotic medications had a three-times increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes within the first year of follow-up, compared with the control group.

The study authors explain:

"In this cohort of children and youth who had recently initiated use of an antipsychotic or a control psychotropic drug, antipsychotic users had a risk of newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes three-times greater than that for propensity score-matched controls."

They add: "The excess risk occurred within the first year of antipsychotic use, increased with cumulative antipsychotic dose, and was present for children 6 to 17 years of age. The increased risk persisted for up to 1 year following cessation of antipsychotic use."

The researchers say it is interesting that the increased risk of type 2 diabetes in the use of antipsychotics was present within the first year of therapy.

"Cases of early-onset antipsychotic-associated diabetes have been reported for
adults. In one series, the majority of cases occurred within 6 months of drug initiation," the study authors say.

"Although there are fewer case reports in the literature for children, early-onset cases also have been described. Further study of the pathophysiology of antipsychotic-associated diabetes is needed."

Research from McMaster University in 2012 found that antipsychotic drugs may have effects against cancer.

Written by Honor Whiteman

Copyright: Medical News Today

Not to be reproduced without permission of Medical News Today
Courtesy: Medical News Today Note: Any medical information available in this news section is not intended as a substitute for informed medical advice and you should not take any action before consulting with a health care professional.