Monday, February 26, 2007
The new warnings for ADHD drugs
Odds are, you or somebody you care about takes medicine for Attention Deficit (Hyperactivity) Disorder (you do, after all, stay up late reading blogs!). Well, the United States Food and Drug Administration is requiring the manufacturers of the leading ADHD drugs -- Adderall, Focalin, and the various formulations of methylphenidate hydrochloride (most popularly known as Ritalin) to supply new warnings and instructions to patients and physicians (draft "medication guides" for 15 well-known drugs and doseages are here). The accompanying press release warns patients against both cardiovascular and psychiatric adverse events:
ADHD is a condition that affects approximately 3 percent to 7 percent of school-aged children and approximately 4 percent of adults. The three main symptoms are inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity. People with ADHD may have difficulty in school, troubled relationships with family and peers, and low self-esteem.
An FDA review of reports of serious cardiovascular adverse events in patients taking usual doses of ADHD products revealed reports of sudden death in patients with underlying serious heart problems or defects, and reports of stroke and heart attack in adults with certain risk factors.
Another FDA review of ADHD medicines revealed a slight increased risk (about 1 per 1,000) for drug-related psychiatric adverse events, such as hearing voices, becoming suspicious for no reason, or becoming manic, even in patients who did not have previous psychiatric problems.
Notwithstanding the scariness, patients and their families who benefit from these drugs should absolutely not run from these medications, which are at least as often a godsend as they are overprescribed. However, do read the medication guide associated with the drug you are concerned about. You will then probably know as much about this as your family's doctor.
2 Comments:
By 
Tiger, at
Tue Feb 27, 06:13:00 AM:
TigerHawk, the Tigress is a high school teacher who is involved in a high level academic program called "IB" (International Baccalaureate).
You may find it interesting that this organization does not recognize ADHD and refers to it as "that American problem".
The Tigress agrees with this assessment.
FYI, the IB program started out well, but like most things in education, it has become a quagmire!
By Assistant Village Idiot, at
Tue Feb 27, 09:03:00 PM:
For people who need to believe that all chemical interventions are a crock, side effects at less dramatic levels are enough to make them cover their mouths in horror. For those who want some pill to fix their kid (or themselves) even the risk of death or psychiatric emergency is no problem.
We live in a world of no balance.
