The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 275 No 7381 p768
24 December 2005

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News summary

SSRIs still prescribed for children, despite safety warnings

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors continue to be prescribed for the management of childhood depression, despite warnings from regulatory authorities, a review of prescribing practices in Ireland has revealed.

The authors say that the overall trend in prescribing for all classes of antidepressants in children decreased between 2001 and 2004. The pattern for prescribing in adults showed an upward trend (BMJ 2005;331:1451).