Daily Dosage: This is your kid on Zyprexa

Hope it doesn't interact with the inevitable diabetes meds

This week, the FDA announced that their stellar panelist of researchers had approved the use of three major psychiatric meds, already used by adults, for kids aged 10 to 17.

It’s a win-win-win, isn’t it? The FDA snuggles even more cozily into bed with major drug-makers (maybe nuzzling their shoulder, or even making them pancakes the morning after?); the major drug-makers boost their already massive population of pill-poppers (psychotic ailments have more than doubled among kids since 2001); and the mentally unstable tots…get fat, tired and diabetic?

The drugs – Zyprexa (Lilly), Seroquel (AstraZeneca) and Geodon (Pfizer) – all have a lengthy list of side effects. But the three most common are metabolic slowdown, fatigue and wonky blood sugar. That’s another win for drug companies: they can offer a package deal with weight-loss drugs, insulin pens and a coupon for 10-percent off your next purchase. Furthermore, the FDA only tested the drugs on young patients for 4 to 6 weeks. Hardly thorough enough to approve meds that are intended for lifelong management of schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.

I guess I’d rather my kid be fat, tired and mentally stable than thin, energetic and off-the-wall crazy. But is there really no third option? Aside from tubal ligation?