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Thursday, February 22, 2007

Warning on ADHD Drugs: Adverse drug reactions

Yesterday, U.S. government health officials ordered the makers of drugs for Attention Deficit Disorder (ADHD) to write Patient Medication Guides to alert patients about the drugs’ adverse effects on patients’ hearts and brains. ADHD affects 5% of school-age children and almost as many adults, and use of these drugs by adults has more than doubled since 2000. The drugs include Adderall, Concerta, Daytrana, Desoxyn, Dexedrine, Focalin, Metadate CD, Methylin, Ritalin, and Strattera.

Advice to people taking drugs for ADHD: Read the FDA press release and draft medication guides. Work with your physician to develop a treatment plan that includes a careful health history and evaluation of current status, particularly for cardiovascular and psychiatric problems (including assessment for a family history of such problems).

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

The use of these types of drugs is getting out of hand. There are no medical tests to give a diagnosis of "ADD" or "ADHD" it is based only on a form that the child's teacher fills out. If the teacher says the child doesn't always sit still, talks out of turn at times, or generally isn't the little robot the public schools want him or her to be, then it is recommended to the parents to use a mind altering anti depressant. If the parent disagrees then they are made to feel as if they are doing their child an injustice. "If your child had diabetes, wouldn't you see to it they got their insulin?"
Not the same thing in my book. How about looking into diet, exercise and the amount of time in schools between breakfast and lunch. Some kids could do better if they were allowed to have a small snack and a drink of water.
Just a thought.