This week has been a busy week in the news for ADHD. A British TV show seems to have misinterpreted the conclusions from the multimodal treatment study. This has led to a media uproar about the fact that ADHD medicines don’t seem to work. (You can watch my youtube video on the ADHD Medicine story here).

Today, I saw an article in the British (online) Press, that an inquiry will be requested into how ADHD is diagnosed and treated in the UK. You can read the story here.

My initial reaction, I must admit, was frustration and concern. I was frustrated thinking that they are over reacting to mis-information, and concerned that this would interfere with the help for people with ADHD in the UK.

But then I thought about it…

The truth is… this may lead to more resources and funding for behavioral and non-medication treatments for ADHD. That is a good thing! (Since the best treatment for ADHD is a combination of non-medication and medication approaches).

So, I now consider this positive, and a chance for advocacy.

My suggestions for our British friends (who are advocates for ADHD) is to get actively involved in this process so that the members of the inquiry (if it happens) will have the proper information. This will help children, teens and adults with ADHD.

It would be a tragedy if this inquiry led to more widespread misinformation and restrictions on the access to medications. Hopefully, this will lead to a better understanding of ADHD and access to more resources and comprehensive treatment.

Please share your thoughts and comments below.

Dr. Kenny

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I am writing this short post to share with you an article that I wrote which is featured today in Google News and Yahoo News (as well as many other sites…).
I talk about the issues of prescriptions for ADD and ADHD, and share that you can get access to my free report: The State of ADD/ADHD Medication.
To see this story on Yahoo News, visit here.
Enjoy,
Dr. Kenny
p.s. I have been receiving emails from people thanking me for the special report. I am so glad that people are finding it helpful, because I put a lot of hours into it! Will you share your thoughts on it? Either leave a comment on this blog, or email me (if you are one of my subscribers!)

Technorati Tags: ADHD Medication, ADD Medication, Concerta, Adderall, Vyvanse

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Does the health care system have your
best interest at heart when it comes
to treating your ADHD?

Here are some shocking facts about ADHD.

* 1.5 Million Adults take stimulant
medication for ADD/ADHD. 10% of them are
over age 50.

* More than 20 Million Children Worldwide
have been diagnosed with ADHD, but only 5-
10% of children suffering with ADHD are
estimated to be diagnosed at all.

For lots more fascinating facts about ADHD,
read my special report, which you can get
here:The State of ADD/ADHD Medication.

* ADHD is poised to become the world’s
leading childhood disorder treated with
medication.

* Global use of ADHD medications rose
threefold from 1993 through 2006.

Are all these prescriptions necessary?

I’m an ADHD doctor. See my surprising
answer in my special report, which you can
get here (hint - the devil’s in the
details):
ADHD Medication Special Report.

* The production of Adderall and Dexedrine,
medicines used to treat ADHD, has risen
2,000 % in nine years

* 2004 revenues for ADHD medication were
over $2.4 billion in the U.S.

The drug companies have YOU in their
crosshairs.

But you are not a statistic.

Your best defense against becoming just an
ADHD number is becoming educated and
learning all you can about ADHD.

You can start with this special free report that I’ve just
released for you:
The State of ADD/ADHD Medication.

Best regards,

Dr. Kenny Handelman, MD FRCPC

P.S.
The fact is, your ADHD treatment plan is
controlled by a health care system that may
not have your best interests at heart. YOU
can take control by educating yourself. Is
that the way it should be? Perhaps not.
But learning about ADHD isn’t as hard as you
think. Take the next step with my fr.ee
report:

Get Your report here:

——————————————
ADD/ADHD Medication Special Report <-- Click Here Right Now
——————————————

Technorati Tags: ADHD, ADD, Medication, Concerta, Adderall, Vyvanse, Ritalin, Strattera, Metadate, Biphentin

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When it comes to ADD and ADHD medication, there have been a number of new warnings that have come out in the past two years. I would suggest that one of the most serious is the concern that ADHD medication can cause heart attacks, strokes, or sudden death.

Ultimately, the current warnings reflect the fact that if someone has a congenital heart defect (i.e. they were born with a physical problem with their heart), have high blood pressure, a family history of sudden cardiac death, etc. then ADHD medications may provide an increased risk, and should either not be used, or should be used with the advice of a cardiologist.

The FDA (US Food and Drug Administration) announced that it will conduct the largest study to date on the cardiac safety of ADHD medications. It will pair up with the AHRQ (Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality). They have a database with over 500,000 children, and adults who have taken ADHD medications. This study will help to establish whether there are measurable cardiovascular risks in people taking ADHD medication. The results will likely take approximately two years to become available.

To read more about this study, click here.

When referring to the ADHD medications, these include: Adderall, Adderall XR, Vyvanse, Ritalin, Ritalin LA, Concerta, Metadate, Daytrana, Methylin, Dexedrine, Focalin, and others.

What should you do about this information? If you have any concerns, contact your doctor, and discuss them. And appreciate the fact that we will know more about the safety of these medications in a couple of years.

Dr. Kenny

Technorati Tags: ADHD Medication, FDA, Vyvanse

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For people who have ADHD (or ADD) and Epilepsy, there has been concern over the years as to whether taking ADHD medication, such as Ritalin, may worsen seizures.
Researchers from Harvard have just presented their data from a study which reviewed the impact of Concerta on seizures. The results are reassuring for ADHD and epilepsy sufferers.

This study included 27 children, with a mean age of 10, with ADHD and epilepsy. This was a randomised, double blind, placebo controlled, cross over study. In other words, it was very well designed.

In the end the researchers were able to conclude that Concerta does not induce seizures.

This should help to reassure parents of children with ADHD and seizures that Concerta is safe in this combination of disorders.

Of course it is important to review your particular situation with your doctor.

Also, as is always the case in science - replication of studies is important to verify and truly establish facts.

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In February 2006, an FDA committee suggested very strong safety warnings on ADHD medication.

After extensive review, the warnings were increased, but not to the level of a ‘black box’, which is the strongest warning possible.

The decision was made to study the ADHD medications further, to clearly establish the risks for side effects like heart attacks and strokes from the stimulant medicines.

It was reported today that the FDA does not have sufficient funding to study the ADHD medications. They may have to stop this study midstream.

It is reported that the FDA has a budget of $1.6 million to fund safety research of medications already on the market. It is estimated by outside experts that the budget that is needed is in the range of $20 million to $100 million annually.

This budget compares to the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in the US of $28.6 Billion. The NIH funds critically important research to further our understanding of major illnesses.

That’s right: 28.6 Billion to 1.6 Million. Couldn’t the budgets be adjusted to allow for proper safety monitoring of medications? Isn’t that a critically important health issue?

As the number of medications available increases, and as the ‘baby boom’ ages (and may take more medication), shouldn’t this be a priority?

As an advocate for ADHD, I feel that it is crucial to have the proper studies done to establish the safety of these medicines. As a Canadian Doctor, I do not pay taxes into the American system which funds this research. However, when I buy or prescribed medicines manufactured in the US, I do support the overall ’system’.

If you are an American, please consider contacting your member of congress to encourage the proper research funding be in place to ensure the safety of everyone who takes ADHD medication (or any medication for any medical condition the requires safety monitoring!).

You can find your member of congress quickly and easily here.

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On September 21, 2006, Health Canada announced that it is revising the labelling of all ADHD medications for a new warning - including rare events of: agitation and hallucinations in children.

Health Canada released the following press release to inform Canadians of their concerns.

This ADHD medication warning applies to all of the ADHD medications available in Canada, including: Ritalin, Ritalin SR, Dexedrine, Dexedrine Spansule, Concerta, Adderall XR, Biphentin, Attenade, and Strattera.

The Health Canada report says:

“ADHD drugs are generally safe and provide benefits for Canadians in their treatment of ADHD when used as directed. Decisions about taking any of these drugs indicated for ADHD should be made in consultation with a physician.”

What does this mean to parents who are concerned about their children taking ADHD medications?

1. Do not stop ADHD medications without speaking to your child’s doctor.
2. If you have any concerns about whether your child should still be taking his/her ADHD medication in light of these warnings, contact your child’s doctor to review it.
3. Please remember that these are very rare side effects, and they will not affect the vast majority of children taking ADHD medicines.
4. If the medication is taken as prescribed the risk is very low.
5. If the medication is abused, then the risk of agitation and hallucinations is higher.
6. If your child has a more complicated ADHD - i.e. with a comorbid bipolar disorder, then there may be a higher risk of these side effects. Talk to your doctor to discuss this if you are concerned.

In summary, this new warning should have little impact on the vast majority of the medication treatment of children with ADHD.

This warning underlines the importance of: proper diagnosis, taking medications as prescribed, and good communication between patients and their doctors.

If you have any concerns about your child’s ADHD medication, contact the prescribing doctor.

This article is not intended as medical advice, and is only intended for educational purposes.

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In the past 1 1/2 years, there has been a lot of news about the safety of medications for ADHD/ADD. While this has led to many people being very concerned about using medication for ADHD, I hope that it is also reassuring - i.e. the fact that active ongoing monitoring of medication is going on should reassure people taking the medication.

The FDA, Health Canada, and other monitoring agencies in different countries have kept active watch on medications for ADHD.

Last week, the FDA announced new concerns and warnings for ADHD medications - including Dexedrine and Ritalin. I am preparing a summary of this issue - and it will be posted shortly.

With this post, I wanted to provide some background about the issues, taken from two previous reports I have done:

1) Adderall XR: its removal and reinstatement in Canada
2) The FDA concerns and suggestion of a black box warning in February 2006.

Adderall XR - The Canadian Story:

On February 9, 2005, Health Canada (the Canadian version of the FDA), suspended Adderall XR from the Canadian market due to safety concerns. There were concerns that Adderall may have been associated with an increased risk of sudden/cardiac death, and stroke in children and adults taking the medication. View the original statement by Health Canada here.

The FDA in the United States reviewed the Health Canada concerns about Adderall, and decided that there was not a need to change the labeling or availability of Adderall XR based on their review of the data. View their original statement here.

Health Canada established a ‘New Drug Committee’ (NDC) to review the data on safety and adverse events on Adderall XR. The committee included three members - a specialist in childhood behavioral disorders (doctor who is an expert in ADHD), a pediatric cardiologist (heart specialist for kids), and a pharmaco-epidemiologist (expert in research on medicines).

The New Drug Committee reviewed Adderall XR, the safety concerns, and found that there was no increased risk for Adderall compared to other ADHD Medications. So, Adderall was reinstated in Canada on August 26, 2005. The NDC did include the following quote at the end of their report:

That ALL stimulant drugs prescribed in the management of ADHD should be used with caution in patients who:
(a) are involved in strenuous exercise or activities
(b) use other stimulants or,
(c) have a family history of sudden/cardiac death.

You can see the full report of the New Drug Committee here.

Many patients were affected by Adderall XR being taken off the market in Canada. If you or someone you love were affected when Adderall XR was taken off the market, please post a comment and describe the impact on you or your loved one.

2) The FDA concerns about ADHD medications and the suggestion of a ‘Black Box’ Warning in February 2006

On February 9th, 2006, an advisory committee of the FDA met to review safety in ADHD medication. This subcommittee shocked the ADHD world by coming out with the recommendation of a Black Box warning for ADHD Medications - which is a the strongest warning possible by the FDA.

On that day, I prepared a detailed, audio ’special report’ to summarize the issues. You can hear or download this report here:
FDA concerns about ADHD Medication

This article is just the start of a series of articles which will help to review the evolving issues about safety of ADHD medications.I want to keep you up to date and informed!

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