A panel of pediatric experts is calling on government regulators to further study the impact of antipsychotic drugs on children and improve labeling of the medications often prescribed to kids with developmental disabilities.

In a 16 to 1 vote last week, a pediatric advisory committee to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration urged the agency to continue to study the safety of increasingly popular antipsychotic drugs such as Risperdal, Seroquel and Abilify.

Moreover, the committee recommended that the FDA enhance drug labeling to emphasize concerns about weight gain, diabetes and other risks that children face when taking the psychiatric medications.

The recommendations come as more and more children — including many with developmental disabilities — are prescribed antipsychotics, though little is known about the impact of the drugs on young people, reports Reuters. To read more click here.

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