title: Age-grouped differences in adverse drug events from psychotropic medication.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This review aims to detail specific psychotropic medication treatment differences in adverse drug events (ADEs) between children, adolescents, and adults.
  
  
  METHODS
  A thorough data-based search of ADEs was made, augmented by findings from approved and updated U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) drug labels, controlled clinical trial reports, and from FDA information on ADEs at scheduled public hearings.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Children were found to generally exhibit more ADEs to psychotropic medication than adolescents and adults. These ADEs primarily include altered growth velocity, rash, vomiting, dystonia, tics, affect lability, activation, metabolic blood test abnormalities, sedation, sialorrhea, and electrocardiogram irregularities.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Children have more biological vulnerabilities than older individuals, which could account for their greater rate of ADEs to psychotropic medication treatment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Johns Hopkins Institutions, Baltimore, Maryland, USA. dsafer@jhmi.edu
authors.forename: Daniel J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Safer
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D016907:Adverse Drug Reaction Reporting Systems; D000367:Age Factors; D002648:Child; D064420:Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008508:Medication Errors / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000639:trends; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs / Q000009:adverse effects*
chemical_list: D011619:Psychotropic Drugs