ADHD Drugs Need Better Warnings on Heart, Psychiatric Risks
U.S. health officials on Wednesday told manufacturers of all drugs used to treat attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder that they must develop patient medication guides warning of possible cardiovascular and psychiatric risks…
“A warning like this is important because it makes people think twice before they do this, and it stimulates more investigation,” said Dr. Steven Lipshultz, chairman of the pediatrics department at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine. “I think this is excellent, and can only be beneficial.” …
Spiraling growth in use of these medicines — the number of adults aged 20 to 44 using ADHD drugs surged more than 139 percent from 2000 to 2005 — has already prompted safety questions…
Officials hope that the guides, which are given to patients at the time the drug is dispensed, will alert doctors and patients to the importance of taking a careful medical history, doing a physical exam, and carefully monitoring patients for symptoms that may indicate a problem.
Source: 14WFIE
http://www.14wfie.com/Global/story.asp?S=6122016&nav=3w6r
February 22nd, 2007 at 4:34 PM
My son in law’s brother has a number of episodes of paranoid thoughts. He has a highly respected job, and is nearly 50 years old. Other than these episodes, which are really scaring him, he is sensible and low key. This started after he started taking Ritalin. Now maybe he can return to normal as he has stopped taking the drug. The timing of this article is a godsend. He was ready to move out of the city and quit his job. I hope other with children on these drugs take a second look at the problems with these drugs.
February 22nd, 2007 at 5:55 PM
Please,
If you are in charge of a blog, report the facts. The story did not say that it caused heart problems, it said that it may cause injury or death to people with heart problems…
Also, it could effect those people that ALREADY HAVE PSYCH PROBLEMS……..
SAME AS ANY OTHER DRUG!!!!!
Quote from story:
Draft versions of the guides posted on the FDA Web site include discussion of reports of increased blood pressure and heart rate in ADHD patients, as well as cases of sudden death in some who have heart problems and heart defects. In adult patients, the reported problems also include stroke and heart attack.
The alerts also cover psychiatric problems, such as hearing voices, unfounded suspicions and manic behavior, of which there is a slightly increased risk in patients who take the drugs, the FDA said. The guides also tell patients and their parents of precautions they can take to guard against the risks.