Psychiatric medications can be very helpful, even
life-saving, for some children and adolescents. However, some of these
medications may lead to weight gain. The antipsychotic medications, in
particular, have also been associated with problems controlling blood sugar,
cholesterol and triglycerides. These changes can increase the risk of a child
or adolescent developing diabetes and heart related problems. Parents should
discuss the risks and benefits of specific medications with their child’s
physician.
A comprehensive psychiatric evaluation by a qualified
physician should be done before a child or adolescent is prescribed any of
these medications.
Weight gain is possible with many medications. Some examples
of medications that can lead to weight gain include: A comprehensive
psychiatric evaluation by a qualified physician should be done before a child
or adolescent is prescribed any of these medications.
Weight gain is possible with many medications. Some examples
of medications that can lead to weight gain include:
Antipsychotics:
such as aripiprazole (Abilify), chlorpromazine (Thorazine), clozapine
(Clozaril), olanzapine (Zyprexa), pimozide (Orap), quetiapine (Seroquel),
risperidone (Risperdal), ziprasidone (Geodon)
Mood stabilizers:
such as lithium, valproic acid (Depakote/Depakene), carbamazepine (Tegretol)
Antidepressants:
such as mirtazapine (Remeron), paroxetine (Paxil), imipramine (Tofranil)
At the start of treatment your child’s height and weight
should be measured. Their BMI (Body Mass Index) can be calculated and adjusted
for their age and gender. This provides you and your child’s psychiatrist with
baseline information so that any changes can be followed over time.
It is very important to let your child’s doctor know if your
child or family members have problems with diabetes, blood sugar, cholesterol,
triglycerides, or heart disease. To make treatment with these medications as
safe as possible, your child’s psychiatrist or physician will weigh them and
order certain laboratory tests from time to time.
When on these medications appetite can increase. Children
and adolescents may also not recognize when they are full. The following tips
and ideas can help both prevent and manage medication-related weight gain in
children and adolescents:
Dietary guidance:
Use portion
control for all food at meals and snacks – measure and limit size of portions
(example – pour out an amount of snack rather than eating out of box or bag)
Use more healthy
food choices (example - fresh fruits and vegetables for snacks)
Limit snacks and
junk food
Substitute low
calorie for higher calorie snacks (example – pretzels instead of chips/nuts)
Drink several
large glasses (or bottles) of water throughout the day
Limit sugar
containing beverages (sodas, juice, etc.)
Have other family
members be understanding and supportive (example – don’t eat high calorie foods
in front of the child or teen)
Tips for meals
Schedule regular
meal times
Plan menus – limit
fast food
Use meal time for
the family to talk – don’t just eat and run
Sit down to eat –
don’t stand and eat
Chew all food more
slowly
Avoid eating in
front of the TV
Remember: portion
control (measure and limit size of portions)
Tips to increase activity level
Limit time spent
sitting watching TV, on the computer or playing video games
Use TV commercials for moving create a exercise you can do other then walk to refrigerator.
Use TV commercials for moving create a exercise you can do other then walk to refrigerator.
Increase walking –
walk after each meal, wear a pedometer to make it fun
Use stairs instead
of elevators
Encourage exercise
and sports involvement
Use forms of
activities that are fun and interesting (playing outdoors, riding bikes,
rollerblading, swimming, bowling, dancing, etc.)
Following these tips can limit weight gain when taking
psychiatric medications and help reduce the risk of serious medical problems.
Resource: http://www.aacap.org/cs/root/facts_for_families/preventing_and_managing_medicationrelated_weight
No comments:
Post a Comment