Cited by 324Pharmaceutical studies and practicesAttention Deficit Hyperactivity DisorderSchizophrenia research and treatment

Safety of 80 antidepressants, antipsychotics, anti-attention-deficit/hyperactivity medications and mood stabilizers in children and adolescents with psychiatric disorders: a large scale systematic meta-review of 78 adverse effects

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Solmi, Marco, Fornaro, Michele, Ostinelli, Edoardo G., Zangani, Caroline, Croatto, Giovanni, Monaco, Francesco, Krinitski, Damir, Fusar‐Poli, Paolo +1 more·2020·World Psychiatry

Abstract

Mental disorders frequently begin in childhood or adolescence. Psychotropic medications have various indications for the treatment of mental dis­orders in this age group and are used not infrequently off‐label. However, the adverse effects of these medications require special attention during developmentally sensitive periods of life. For this meta‐review, we systematically searched network meta‐analyses and meta‐analyses of randomized controlled trials (RCTs), individual RCTs, and cohort studies reporting on 78 a priori selected adverse events across 19 categories of 80 psychotropic medications – including antidepressants, antipsychotics, anti‐attention‐deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) medications and mood stabilizers – in children and adolescents with mental disorders. We included data from nine network meta‐analyses, 39 meta‐analyses, 90 individual RCTs, and eight cohort studies, including 337,686 children and adolescents. Data on ≥20% of the 78 adverse events were available for six antidepressants (sertraline, escitalopram, paroxetine, fluoxetine, venlafaxine and vilazodone), eight antipsychotics (risperidone, quetiapine, aripiprazole, lurasidone, paliperidone, ziprasidone, olanzapine and asenapine), three anti‐ADHD medications (methylphenidate, atomoxetine and guanfacine), and two mood stabilizers (valproate and lithium). Among these medications with data on ≥20% of the 78 adverse events, a safer profile emerged for escitalopram and fluoxetine among antidepressants, lurasidone for antipsychotics, methylphenidate among anti‐ADHD medications, and lithium among mood stabilizers. The available literature raised most concerns about the safety of venlafaxine, olanzapine, atomoxetine, guanfacine and valproate. Nausea/vomiting and discontinuation due to adverse event were most frequently associated with antidepressants; sedation, extrapyramidal side effects, and weight gain with antipsychotics; anorexia and insomnia with anti‐ADHD medications; sedation and weight gain with mood stabilizers. The results of this comprehensive and updated quantitative systematic meta‐review of top‐tier evidence regarding the safety of antidepressants, antipsychotics, anti‐ADHD medications and mood stabilizers in children and adolescents can inform clinical practice, research and treatment guidelines.

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  • In an umbrella review, atomoxetine and lisdexamphetamine were associated with hypertension in children and adolescents with mental disorders.

    “Five medications for ADHD were associated with significantly worse anorexia (atomoxetine, d-amphetamine, lisdexamphetamine, methylphenidate, modafinil), four with insomnia (d-amphetamine, lisdexamphetamine, methylphenidate, modafinil), three with weight loss (atomoxetine, methylphenidate, modafinil), two each with abdominal pain (methylphenidate, guanfacine), discontinuation due to adverse event (”

    From The World Federation of ADHD International Consensus Statement: 208 Evidence-based conclusions about the disorder (2021) · cites this paper as Solmi et al., 2020

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  • In an umbrella review, atomoxetine, d-amphetamine, lisdexamphetamine, methylphenidate, and modafinil were associated with significantly worse anorexia in children and adolescents with mental disorders.

    “Five medications for ADHD were associated with significantly worse anorexia (atomoxetine, d-amphetamine, lisdexamphetamine, methylphenidate, modafinil), four with insomnia (d-amphetamine, lisdexamphetamine, methylphenidate, modafinil), three with weight loss (atomoxetine, methylphenidate, modafinil), two each with abdominal pain (methylphenidate, guanfacine), discontinuation due to adverse event (”
  • In an umbrella review, clonidine and guanfacine were associated with sedation in children and adolescents with mental disorders.

    “Five medications for ADHD were associated with significantly worse anorexia (atomoxetine, d-amphetamine, lisdexamphetamine, methylphenidate, modafinil), four with insomnia (d-amphetamine, lisdexamphetamine, methylphenidate, modafinil), three with weight loss (atomoxetine, methylphenidate, modafinil), two each with abdominal pain (methylphenidate, guanfacine), discontinuation due to adverse event (”
  • In an umbrella review, atomoxetine, methylphenidate, and modafinil were associated with weight loss in children and adolescents with mental disorders.

    “Five medications for ADHD were associated with significantly worse anorexia (atomoxetine, d-amphetamine, lisdexamphetamine, methylphenidate, modafinil), four with insomnia (d-amphetamine, lisdexamphetamine, methylphenidate, modafinil), three with weight loss (atomoxetine, methylphenidate, modafinil), two each with abdominal pain (methylphenidate, guanfacine), discontinuation due to adverse event (”
  • In an umbrella review, guanfacine was associated with QT prolongation in children and adolescents with mental disorders.

    “Five medications for ADHD were associated with significantly worse anorexia (atomoxetine, d-amphetamine, lisdexamphetamine, methylphenidate, modafinil), four with insomnia (d-amphetamine, lisdexamphetamine, methylphenidate, modafinil), three with weight loss (atomoxetine, methylphenidate, modafinil), two each with abdominal pain (methylphenidate, guanfacine), discontinuation due to adverse event (”

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Research works printed but not linked: 2

  1. [5]5. Correll CU, Kratochvil CJ, March JS. Developments in pediatric psychophar­ macology: focus on stimulants, antidepressants, and antipsychotics. J Clin Psychiatry 2011;72:655-70.
  2. [117]117. Hollander E, Wasserman S, Swanson EN et al. A double-blind placebo-con­ trolled pilot study of olanzapine in childhood/adolescent pervasive develop­ mental disorder. J Child Adolesc Psychopharmacol 2006;16:541-8.

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Authors
Solmi, M., Fornaro, M., Ostinelli, E. G., Zangani, C., Croatto, G., Monaco, F., Krinitski, D., Fusar‐Poli, P., & Correll, C. U.
Affiliations
  • University of Padua (IT)
  • Federico II University Hospital (IT)
  • University of Milan (IT)
  • Azienda Sanitaria Locale Salerno (IT)
  • Integrierte Psychiatrie Winterthur (CH)
  • King's College London (GB)
  • Northwell Health (US)
Venue
World Psychiatry
Publisher
Wiley
Published
2020-05-11
Volume
19
Issue
2
Pages
214-232
ISSN
  • 1723-8617 (ISSN-L)
  • 2051-5545
OpenAlex
W3023958087
Cited by
324
References
199
Citations by year
2026: 43 · 2025: 51 · 2024: 48 · 2023: 62 · 2022: 70 · 2021: 37 · 2020: 13
FWCI
43.65
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • World Psychiatry (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Padua Research Archive (University of Padova) (submittedVersion)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Pediatrics, Perinatology and Child Health › Pharmaceutical studies and practices
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Schizophrenia research and treatment
Keywords
children and adolescents, antidepressants, antipsychotic drugs, ADHD medication, mood stabilizers, adverse drug reactions, escitalopram, fluoxetine, lurasidone, methylphenidate, lithium, valproic acid, off-label drug use, weight gain, sedation, extrapyramidal symptoms, anorexia, insomnia, nausea and vomiting

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