Canadian Pharmacies Wary Of Stocking Antipsychotic Drugs That Spell Danger to Newborn Babies

There is definite risk associated with antipsychotic drugs given to pregnant women, especially in the third trimester, which has already made Canadian pharmacies wary of stocking drugs without safety information available on the label.

Health Canada highlighted the potential risks involved in a recent release published in June 2011 and has already taken the necessary steps to indicate those including withdrawal symptoms and abnormal muscle movements in newborn babies. Pregnant women had to be aware of potential risks, and until a perfect system is in place, they must be in a position to seek alternate medication in consultation with their doctors to prevent impending danger to the newborn infant.

Antipsychotic medications are usually prescribed for schizophrenia or bipolar disorder. Both these medical conditions are related to imbalances in the mind. Schizophrenia occurs when a person is unable to distinguish between situations occurring in the imaginary and real world. Logical thinking is affected, and they are unable to behave normally without having emotional outbursts.

Bipolar disorder is related to the mood of a person. Affected patients may experience higher levels of irritation and then go into depression. It can be sudden and without warning. When pregnant women are treated with antipsychotic medication for these ailments, it is likely that the offspring will demonstrate symptoms of abuse.

Health Canada has already taken the initiative and wants drug manufacturers to ensure labels contain safety information regarding antipsychotic drugs to be prescribed for pregnant women. Medical conditions such as bipolar disorder must be discussed in detail with their medical practitioners. Canadian pharmacies agree that the effects of the drug can vary in newborn babies, and symptoms can last for some hours or could extend to a much longer period wherein specialized medical treatment would be required.

Visible symptoms observed in children can clearly indicate withdrawal symptoms and abnormal muscle movements such as tremors, agitation, sleepiness, very heavy breathing, inability to feed properly, and decreased or increased muscle tone that is abnormal. There are hundreds of drugs prescribed for psychotic behavior. For instance, if a person were to buy risperidone, it is unlikely that the required safety information would be available with the medication at present.

It has already been established in the past that people with serious mental illnesses will have approximately 16 years less to live than people without them. The reason attributed is the higher rate of heart disease found occurring in such patients leading to their death. It has become the responsibility, by default, for medical practitioners to be very cautious while prescribing drugs for mental illnesses.

Canadian pharmaciesfeel that consumers as well as doctors need to be aware of strengths, routes of administration, formulations, and safety information that tells them of the precise nature of this existing, based on research. It will help medical practitioners prescribe highly accurate dosages in the long run putting them in a better position to monitor the condition of a patient with mental disorder. Research leading to safety information being published on the labels of antipsychotic drugs and Canadian drugs must be made mandatory in order to protect patient interests.