It is important to choose medication wisely First of all what is the age range of children? The Convention on the Rights of the Child, adopted by the United Nations on November 20, 1989, defines a child as anyone under the age of 18. The majority of children with childhood schizophrenia are between the ages of 12 and 18 years old, so we can see that this is the most important time in a person’s life, both in terms of physical development and in terms of learning.
The treatment of children with childhood schizophrenia is especially critical at this time, and it is most crucial to choose medications that can both eliminate symptoms to treat the disease and not interfere with their learning and growth and development.
Attention should be paid to the following points.
1. What are the medication principles for children with schizophrenia?
The principles of medication for children with schizophrenia should be safe, effective, adequate dosage and full course of treatment
2. Is it better to use a single medication or a combination of medications?
Clinically, monotherapy should be the first principle. Patients who do not do well with a single medication (adequate dosage and full course) may consider adding another small dose of antipsychotic medication.
3. There have been three generations of antipsychotic drugs, is it true that the newer the drug, the better its efficacy?
In fact, many experts agree that the principle of medication is that different patients should choose their own medication according to the characteristics of their symptoms, and that regardless of “new” or “old” medication, the one that can cure the disease is the good one. The one that can cure the disease is the good one.
We know that non-classical antipsychotic drugs such as clozapine, olanzapine, risperidone, etc. are effective because they act on dopamine (DA) and inhibit 5HT receptors, but now there is an argument that inhibiting 5HT receptors does not have a significant effect on symptoms.
4, “DA and 5HT dual receptor” theory has been rejected, is it true?
The pathogenesis of childhood schizophrenia has not been fully clarified yet, and there are various hypotheses for its pathogenesis.
5, rational use of medication discontinuation, drug changes need to be careful
Clinically, children and their families often expect to stop medication. Objectively speaking, if the diagnosis is clear, medication should be stopped cautiously, and it is generally necessary to adhere to the medication for a period of time to prevent relapse, and the medication must be stopped under the guidance of a doctor, not because the condition is in remission. As for the change of medication should be carried out under the premise of judging that the previous drug treatment is not good or has serious adverse reactions.
6.What do I need to pay attention to when stopping and changing medication? How to make a safe transition?
The doctor’s instructions should be strictly followed and the patient’s symptoms should be observed at all times. For safe transition, cross-medication change method and platform medication change method are mostly used.
7. Do children with schizophrenia have to take medication for life?
Medication should be administered under the guidance of a doctor, and specific analysis should be made on a case-by-case basis, and lifelong medication may be required for some severe cases.
8.Is there a long-acting solution for children who do not want to take medication?
Long-acting injections can be used for treatment.