 | Approximately 11% of U.S. children have
significant mental or or addictive disorders
that cause serious impairment |
| Mental disorders in children may present
different symptoms than those in adults |
| When children are given psychotropic
medication, active monitoring by all
caretakers (parents, teachers, and others
who have charge of the child) is essential |
| Children should be watched and questioned
for side effects because many children,
especially younger ones, do not volunteer
information. |
| Children should be monitored to see that
they are actually taking the medication and
taking the proper dosage, on the correct
schedule. |
| A physician may prescribe to young
children medication that has been FDA
approved for use in adults or older
children. |
| Most medications prescribed for childhood
mental disorders, including many of the
newer medications that are proving helpful,
are prescribed "off-label" because
only a few have been studied for safety and
efficacy in children. |
| Medications listed in this section will be
listed according to to the age approved for
their use |
