Deaths, Ill Effects of ADHD Drugs Cited
Posted on: Sunday, 12 February 2006, 12:00 CST
By AP Wire Service
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Twenty-five people died and 54 more suffered serious cardiovascular problems after they took drugs to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder between 1999 and 2003, the government says.
Children accounted for 19 of the deaths and 26 of the cases of nonfatal cardiovascular problems, including heart attack, stroke, hypertension, palpitations and arrhythmia, according to a Food and Drug Administration report released Wednesday.
The FDA report also includes data on 26 more deaths between 1969 and 2003 in ADHD drug patients. Those include death by suicide, intentional overdose, drowning, heatstroke and from underlying disease.
The report came out a day before an FDA panel was to discuss new ways to examine the potential cardiovascular risks of the drugs, which include amphetamines such as Adderall, and methylphenidates, sold as Ritalin, Concerta, Methylin and Metadate.
Sales of drugs to treat ADHD have increased sharply in recent years.
Source: Tulsa World
Related Articles
- Innovation Would Be the Best Method to Fight Generics' Primacy in the Latin American Cardiovascular Drugs Markets
- Hodgkin's Treatments Increase Long-Term Heart Risk
- Bristol-Myers Drops Diabetes Drug
- Samaritan to Present Its Drugs and Diagnostics for Partnering at BIO 2006 Annual International Conference
- ADHD Drugs Don't Need `Black Box' Warning, Advisory Panel Says
- Bristol-Myers May Scrap Key Diabetes Drug
- Study: Diabetes Drug Doubles Heart Risk
- The $20bn Drugs Disaster
- Merck Says It Decided Against Vioxx Study Three Years Ago
- Expert Warns Against 5 FDA-Approved Drugs
 |
 |
User Comments (1)
| 1. |
Posted by Lori Murray on 02/23/2007, 11:05 Yes, hello, I have a son that has been taking Adderall at about 4 to 6, then Metadate then the Daytrana patches that were a very bad experience and now they have changed him to Focalin, He seems to get very aggressive especially in the evenings. I have been reading your articles and I am very concerned. I am not sure how to take him off of the Focalin XR.. Since they are capsules should I just stop. I did not give him his medicine tthis morning. I am not sure how to get him help or what to do to help him because I know that he will have withdrawls. I was told these medicines would help his temper tantrums and according to his teachers and the doctors the meds will help him focus in school, which he is not dong good at all in. He also has been taking Risperdal for about 3 years and I have cut them back to 1/2 of a 1 mil. tablet in the am and 1/2 in the pm, then last night I stopped the night time dose. Please let me know what I can do. I want my child however I can get him. Just alive. Thank you, Lori Murray |
RSS Feeds