Sunday, August 3, 2025

11:00 AM - 11:40 AM

C2.2 + C2.3

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Details

Pharmacists are increasingly seeing prescriptions for very high doses of antidepressants in teenagers and children, particularly fluoxetine. These doses often exceed guideline recommendations and may not have been extensively studied in this age group. So, do they work? Are they safe? Or is this an emerging norm in clinical practice? This session will explore the evidence (or lack of it) behind high-dose antidepressant use in young people when pharmacists should be concerned and when these prescriptions reflect reasonable practice. Gain practical insights into assessing antidepressant prescriptions, collaborating with prescribers, and supporting young patients on these treatments. Learning objectives - Describe current guideline recommendations for antidepressant use in teenagers and children. - Recognise the risks, benefits, and uncertainties of high-dose antidepressant prescribing in young people. - Discuss when pharmacists should question an antidepressant prescription and when it may be appropriate. - Identify best-practice strategies for supporting young patients and collaborating with prescribers. Competency standards (2016): 3.1, 3.3, 3.5