Tweens and Teens Double Use of Diab...(ggested that inattentive ADHD which is m...),Health

Another example of a higher increase among females was seen in antidepressants where the number of females between 15 and 19 taking the medicine increased by 6.8 percent, while for males in the same age group, utilization declined slightly. This increase in antidepressant use among older teen girls was a striking exception to decreases for boys and girls ages 5 to 9 and boys ages 10 to 14. It also occurred despite a public health advisory released by the Food and Drug Administration in October 2003 regarding antidepressant use by children. Among all children, the prevalence of antidepressant use had been increasing prior to the advisory, after which it decreased.

Unlike the other medications studied, children ages 5 to 9 accounted for the largest increase in the use of asthma controller medication among the three age groups at 67.3 percent as compared to 38.8 percent for the 10 to 14 age group and 34.7 percent for the 15 to 19 age group.

The researchers noted that this exception could be explained by concerns over the long-term side effects of these medications in children and/or greater physician office visits, and therefore greater likelihood of prescribing.

The database used in conducting the study consists of ambulatory administrative pharmacy claims and eligibility information for over 3.5 million commercially insured children enrolled with Express Scripts between 2002 and 2005.

The study is available at http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/cgi/reprint/122/5/e1053

Express Scripts, Inc. is one of the largest pharmacy benefit management (PBM) companies in North America, providing PBM services to millions of consumers through facilities in 13 states and Canada. Express Scripts serves thousands of client gr
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