The following is excerpted from an online article posted by MedicalXpress
Use of medications for mental health and behavioral conditions among children and young adults increased steadily for two decades, and about one in four young people taking these medicines were prescribed a combination that carries a risk of serious drug interactions, according to researchers from the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania.
The combinations of these medications—most commonly involving antidepressants and antipsychotics—can lead to dangerous conditions that include abnormal heart rhythms, excessive sedation, or dangerously elevated serotonin levels.
“While these medicines can be helpful, our research highlights the need for careful monitoring when multiple medications are used, more research on long-term safety, and better access to non-drug treatments like therapy,” said senior author Sean Hennessy, PharmD, Ph.D., a professor of Epidemiology, Systems Pharmacology, and Translational Therapeutics. “Families should have open dialogue with their clinicians to help weigh the benefits and risks of these prescriptions and ensure regular follow-up to keep treatment safe and effective.”
Source: MedicalXpress
https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-02-young-people-psychotropic-drugs-dangerous.html