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| Should You Take Ritalin? |
By:
Jeannine Virtue |
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At least 3.3 million Americans currently take medications to
ease the symptoms of Attention Deficit Disorder. The majority
of these medications are amphetamine-based stimulants.
The doctors prescribe these drugs, but that does not mean they
are necessarily safe, says the Federal Drug Administration
which is currently looking at placing strong warnings on
stimulant ADD medications like Ritalin, Adderall and Concerta.
An FDA advisory panel voted in February to recommend that all
stimulant ADHD drugs carry a "black box" warning - the
strongest possible safety warning - to indicate that the drugs
may increase the risk of heart attacks, strokes and sudden
death.
Black box warnings are intended to alert physicians and
patients that a drug may carry significant risks. The FDA
advisory panel ruled on this black box warning after reviewing
data concerning death and other negative heart problems
associated with stimulant drug medication use. Although data
varies between reporting agencies, 25 to 51 deaths have been
attributed to ADHD medication use. Experts estimate that less
than 10 percent of serious drug reactions are reported to the
FDA, so the deaths and serious adverse effects are undoubtedly
much higher.
Of the reported deaths studied by the advisory panel, 19 were
children. Other reports described 54 cases of high blood
pressure, chest pain, heart attacks, strokes, irregular heart
beats and fainting. The number of arrhythmia has been
surprising. It is believed to be the pathway for the sudden,
unexplained deaths. And because adults have a higher risk of
heart disease and stroke to begin with, any increase in risk
caused by these drugs could affect a large number of people.
One committee member stated that not disclosing the risks
associated with taking these drugs is unethical. Because of the
gravity of the side effects, namely sudden death, physicians
need to be clearly aware of the serious side effects before
prescribing these drugs to their patients. The panel, while
expressing concern about the over prescribing of ADHD
medications, stated that they want physicians to pause before
writing prescriptions for stimulant medications. The FDA
advisory committee also unanimously recommended that the FDA
include medication guides with all stimulant ADHD drugs warning
about the risks.
FDA is not required to follow recommendations given by the
advisory committee, though the FDA usually does follow
recommendations. The FDA awaits advice from its pediatric panel
in March before reaching a decision. The FDA plans to refer the
issue to another advisory panel that deals with psychological
problems in children. Additionally, the FDA is planning a new
study of ADHD drugs that will take approximately 18 months to
complete. Some are adamant that the FDA should not wait for the
results of this study. The FDA has been criticized in the past
for being slow to respond to evidence of health risks
associated with such things as drugs, including painkillers and
antidepressants.
At least two million children and one million adults take
prescription ADHD medication every month. Opponents of this
black box warning - the strongest warning in the industry - say
that they’ve found less than one death or injury for every 1
million prescription filled. It is true that the number of
deaths caused by ADHD medications make up an incredibly small
percent of people using the drug. However, if that one death is
someone you love, that fact is little consolation.
One thought is that a black box warning will help the out of
control rate in which doctors prescribe ADHD drugs. Many
experts believe stimulants like Adderall and Ritalin are being
over prescribed, especially to adults, and the public and
doctors are largely unaware of the potential risks. They say
the chemical structure of stimulants were structurally similar
to drugs like ephedrine, that have proven cardiovascular risks.
Besides the 25-51 deaths reported between 1999 and 2003, the
council also discovered there were 54 cases of cardiovascular
problems, which included heart attacks, strokes, and
hypertension.
If you or someone you love is currently taking a stimulant ADHD
medication for Attention Deficit Disorder, you might want to
consider alternatives to ADHD medications. These alternatives
can include diet modification, exercise regimes, family
therapy, biofeedback and other alternatives that show promise
in easing the symptoms of Attention Deficit Disorder.
About The Author: Jeannine Virtue is a freelance writer who
focuses on health related issues. For information about
effective and natural treatments for Attention Deficit Disorder
and Depression in adults and children, visit the Attention
Deficit Disorder Help Center at
http://www.add-adhd-help-center.com |
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