Healthy Skepticism Library item: 5857

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Publication type: news

Flynn P.
Ritalin's fatal side-effects
Paul Flynn MP ( UK) 2006 Aug 10
http://www.paulflynnmp.co.uk/mustreaddetail.jsp?id=1077

Full text:

Ritalin’s fatal side-effects

Ritalin Killing Australian Children

AN urgent investigation has been launched into claims drugs used to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder could be killing children.

Parliamentary Secretary for Health Christopher Pyne will also meet pharmaceutical company executives this week to discuss whether such drugs should carry stronger warnings.

Mr Pyne yesterday said he had requested an urgent meeting with Novartis Australia, in response to a report in The Australian that children as young as five had suffered strokes, heart attacks, hallucinations and convulsions after taking ADHD medication.

Documents obtained by The Australian revealed almost 400 adverse reactions had been reported to the Therapeutic Goods Administration, some involving children as young as three.

“I’ve asked the people of Novartis, who are the makers of Ritalin, to come and see me this week and explain why Ritalin shouldn’t have a black box applied to it,” Mr Pyne said.

Black box warnings signify that a drug may cause dangerous side-effects. They are the strongest warnings that can be issued by drug regulators.

“The problem is that doctors are inappropriately prescribing Ritalin because they think it’s the wonder drug for children with ADHD,” Mr Pyne said.

“I’m very concerned about this. Parents are entitled to expect the Government to protect them from those kind of (drugs) that lead to the deaths of their children. I have spoken to the head of the TGA and directed him to fast-track an investigation of the use of Ritalin, including speeding up discussions with the FDA in the United States, who are also investigating.”

A spokeswoman for TGA said there was no conclusive evidence ADHD was linked to sudden death or cardiovascular episodes. However, data obtained by The Australian showed the TGA’s reports lacked detailed information about the side-effects experienced by dozens of children. Many of the reports failed to note the patient’s age.

In more than 60 cases the TGA did not conduct any follow-up investigation to find out whether individuals recovered from the side-effects.