Why would A Dr. prescribe Zyprexa to my 16yr old son

My son is 16  and has been in a drug rehab for 1 yr.  He was diagnosed at a young age with adhd and oppositional disorder/defiant disorder.  Since he has been in the rehab they also have prescribed zoloft, and zyprexa.  My son has never shown signs of schizophrenia and I want to know why they would prescribe such a drug to him?  He has been diagnosed  with major depressive disorder, single episode, moderate polysubstance abuse, borderline intellectual functioning with a reading disorder.  All the articles and studies I can find on zyprexa are strictly for schizophrenia.  Can you tell me why he may have been put on 10 mg of zyprexa?

[Kevin Kennedy, Ph.D.]

It is true that Zyprexa is commonly used to treat psychotic disorders, such as schizophrenia. But is is also used to treat agitation and aggression in patents who do not carry a diagnosis of schizophrenia. It is helpful to keep in mond that it is symptoms which are treated by medications; diagnoses are not the focus of treatment. Ask the doctor at the rehab setting about the rationale for the treatment. Such information is part of informed consent, and doctors are very willing to be forthcoming about it.

[tiger0810]

thank you for your prompt response.  I am a concerned parent and my son Is on zoloft, zyprexa and straterra.  I just was very concerned that he is being over medicated.  I do have  a call into the dr. there and hopefully other questions will be answered.  If you have any other information that you feel would be helpful to me it would be greatly appreciated.

[Kevin Kennedy, Ph.D.]

The combination of medications per se is not worrisome - it would be regarded as, in general, an acceptable combination of medications (i.e., there's no reason to avoid that particular combination). Each of the medicines is designed to address different symptoms. But be sure to be active, ask questions, be sure you're being given adequate information about why these prescriptions are being written for your son.