Babies and children are being given medicines not been approved for use by them

June 28, 2006

http://www.mercola.com/2005/sep/22/ninety_percent_of_babies_given_off-label_drugs.htm

Ninety Percent of Babies Given Off-Label Drugs

Babies and children are being given medicines not been approved foruse by them, according to studies conducted in Britain. One estimateindicated they suffer as much as three times more side effects as aresult.

When a "suitable alternative" did not exist, doctors used unlicensedor "off label" medicine in:

* 90 percent of babies in neonatal intensive care units * 70 percent of children in pediatric intensive care units * Two-thirds of children on general medical and surgical pediatricwards in the UK

Two studies suggest that children taking these medicines face a higherrisk of side effects, with one estimate suggesting they suffer up tothree times more side effects as a result. Part of the problem is thatdosages for children are often not provided.

Information on how children react after taking the drugs, and what theside effects are, is not being collected.

Telegraph September 7, 2005

Dr. Mercola's Comment:

It's bad enough that children and infants are overprescribedmedications specifically meant for them; now the media is exposing thefact that kids are also being given drugs which have never been testedon children, with unknown effects. And while this report took place inthe UK, we clearly have no shortage of medications being misused onkids in the United States either.

In our "Have a problem? Take a pill!" society, drugs are alreadyvastly overprescribed. This is a particular problem for children. Inthe first year or two of life, your child's immune system is stillbeing formed, and their experiences during this time can often predictwhether or not they will have life-long health problems.

Scientific studies continually support the wisdom of limitingexposures to "foreign" substances for children, including syntheticchemicals -- which includes drugs.

Along with immune system development, your child's nervous systemcontinues to develop well into their seventh year of life. With therecent epidemic increase in the rates of autism, attention deficit,and hyperactivity disorders, it would seem prudent to nurture andprotect your child in every way possible.

Even drugs intended for children can have side effects as horrifyingas suicidal tendencies and blindness. Drugs that have never beentested on children could have even worse effects. Play it safe; limityour child's exposure to drugs, and make sure that any prescriptionyour child gets is absolutely, absolutely necessary.