Many young people with ADHD prescribed contraindicated medications: Study

In a trend driven by stimulants prescribed for attention‐deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), many young people are getting too many and contraindicated medications, researchers have found. One in four youth was exposed to major drug‐drug interactions (DDIs) during the two‐decade period ending in 2020, according to a study published in the Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. The study, “Trends in Psychotropic Medication Use, Polypharmacy, and Potential Major Drug‐Drug Interactions Among US Youth,” concluded with the recommendation that studies be conducted focusing on medication safety, effectiveness, and DDI risks of psychotropic medications in youth.