The US FDA's outside advisory panel has given a somewhat 'cautious' consent nod for the use of three commonly-used antipsychotic medications for children and teens with schizophrenia or bipolar disorder.

The drugs - AstraZeneca's Seroquel, Pfizer's Geodon, and Eli Lilly's Zyprexa - are already used widely for the treatment of schizophrenia or bipolar disorder in adults. Though there have been questions raised about the long-term safety of the mentioned antipsychotic drugs, the US advisory panel mostly opined that the medications are apparently 'safe and effective' on the whole in treating children and teenagers.

However, some members of the panel expressed their apprehensions about the use of the drugs in children, more so since the short-term studies have failed to show the reaction of the drugs in youngsters exposed to them over a period of time for the chronic conditions.

Speaking for others holding a similar opinion, Ruth Day, a researcher at Duke University, said: "I'm concerned about the lack of true long-term studies, especially in younger patients who will have a long lifetime, hopefully."

After carefully weighing the recommendations given by the members of the advisory panel, the FDA is expected to give its decision on the drugs before long. Going by the proceedings, an FDA approval decision, for the use of the three drugs for children, appears to be on the cards!