ABSTRACT
Children, particularly those under the age of 15 years, tend to require higher dosages of medication per body weight than an adult. The other way in which psychiatric care is appropriately ended is when there has been an ongoing period of symptom stability without medication changes. Stimulant and nonstimulant medications show a more rapid treatment response than other psychotropic medications. Throughout treatment and follow-up visits, compliance with medication has been assessed. The psychiatrist should ensure that the person has continued to take the medications as prescribed. Some examples of medications where an EKG should be considered include stimulants, clonidine, and tricyclic antidepressants. As with the traditional mood stabilizers, these medications frequently cause a dramatic increase in appetite, which can lead to weight gain and other metabolic problems. A final common reason that polypharmacy occurs is that a second medication may be needed to treat emergent side effects from an effective medication.
