New recommendations suggest that antipsychotics should not routinely be used to treat primary insomnia in adults, children, and the elderly, as reported by Medscape.

“Many antipsychotics have sedative properties and are often prescribed off-label for complaints of insomnia,” Chris Wilkes, MD, head of Child and Adolescent Outpatient and Specialized Services in the Department of Psychiatry, University of Calgary, Alberta, and president of CACAP, told Medscape Medical News.

“These drugs carry significant risk of potential side effects, including weight gain and metabolic disorders,” said Dr Wilkes.

Get the full story at www.medscape.com