| At least 3.3 million Americans currently take | | | | and stroke to begin with, any increase in risk caused |
| medications to ease the symptoms of Attention Deficit | | | | by these drugs could affect a large number of |
| Disorder. The majority of these medications are | | | | people.One committee member stated that not |
| amphetamine-based stimulants.The doctors prescribe | | | | disclosing the risks associated with taking these drugs |
| these drugs, but that does not mean they are | | | | is unethical. Because of the gravity of the side effects, |
| necessarily safe, says the Federal Drug Administration | | | | namely sudden death, physicians need to be clearly |
| which is currently looking at placing strong warnings on | | | | aware of the serious side effects before prescribing |
| stimulant ADD medications like Ritalin, Adderall and | | | | these drugs to their patients. The panel, while |
| Concerta.An FDA advisory panel voted in February to | | | | expressing concern about the over prescribing of |
| recommend that all stimulant ADHD drugs carry a | | | | ADHD medications, stated that they want physicians |
| "black box" warning - the strongest possible safety | | | | to pause before writing prescriptions for stimulant |
| warning - to indicate that the drugs may increase the | | | | medications. The FDA advisory committee also |
| risk of heart attacks, strokes and sudden death.Black | | | | unanimously recommended that the FDA include |
| box warnings are intended to alert physicians and | | | | medication guides with all stimulant ADHD drugs |
| patients that a drug may carry significant risks. The | | | | warning about the risks.FDA is not required to follow |
| FDA advisory panel ruled on this black box warning | | | | recommendations given by the advisory committee, |
| after reviewing data concerning death and other | | | | though the FDA usually does follow recommendations. |
| negative heart problems associated with stimulant drug | | | | The FDA awaits advice from its pediatric panel in |
| medication use. Although data varies between | | | | March before reaching a decision. The FDA plans to |
| reporting agencies, 25 to 51 deaths have been | | | | refer the issue to another advisory panel that deals |
| attributed to ADHD medication use. Experts estimate | | | | with psychological problems in children. Additionally, the |
| that less than 10 percent of serious drug reactions are | | | | FDA is planning a new study of ADHD drugs that will |
| reported to the FDA, so the deaths and serious | | | | take approximately 18 months to complete. Some are |
| adverse effects are undoubtedly much higher.Of the | | | | adamant that the FDA should not wait for the results |
| reported deaths studied by the advisory panel, 19 | | | | of this study. The FDA has been criticized in the past |
| were children. Other reports described 54 cases of | | | | for being slow to respond to evidence of health risks |
| high blood pressure, chest pain, heart attacks, strokes, | | | | associated with such things as drugs, including |
| irregular heart beats and fainting. The number of | | | | painkillers and antidepressants.At least two million |
| arrhythmia has been surprising. It is believed to be the | | | | children and one million adults take prescription ADHD |
| pathway for the sudden, unexplained deaths. And | | | | medication every month. |
| because adults have a higher risk of heart disease | | | | |