Healthy Skepticism Library item: 6103
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Publication type: news
ADHD drugs carry slight risk of psychiatric side-effects
CBC News 2006 Sep 21
http://www.cbc.ca/story/health/national/2006/09/21/adhd.html?print
Full text:
http://www.cbc.ca/story/health/national/2006/09/21/adhd.html?print
ADHD drugs carry slight risk of psychiatric side-effects
Last Updated Thu, 21 Sep 2006 20:52:02 EDT
CBC News
Ritalin, Adderall and all other drugs used to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder have the potential to cause uncommon psychiatric side-effects including rare cases of agitation and hallucination in children, Health Canada warned Thursday.
The department announced all drugs used to manage ADHD will carry new labels in December. Prescribing information will also be updated, based on an ongoing review of psychiatric events linked to the drug.
Health Canada says even though the side effects are rare it felt compelled to issue a warning.
“The message is every drug has benefits and risks associated with that,” said Dr. Duc Vu of Health Canada. “ADHD is the condition that needs to be treated and needs to be monitored.
Two million prescriptions for the stimulants, which increase blood pressure and speed up the pulse, were written in Canada in 2005, and use of the drugs is increasing.
The psychiatric warning follows the department’s alert earlier this year on rare heart-related risks for all ADHD drugs.
Canadian adults and children were advised not to use the drugs if they have high blood pressure, heart disease or other heart problems, hardening of the arteries or an overactive thyroid gland. Drug labels were standardized to report the risk of rare heart-related side-effects.
That warning came after 25 deaths linked to the drugs occurred in the U.S. Some of those who died were children.
Dr. Wendy Roberts, who has been prescribing these drugs for decades, told CBC that the warning shouldn’t cause parents to panic.
“If you get an unusual effect, and you always need to talk about it and monitor for it, you stop the drug and it goes away,” said Roberts. “In the majority of children this is just not an issue, it’s a very small number that we’re talking about.”
Patients should check with a doctor about taking the drugs or if they have questions or concerns.
Health Canada’s safety review of ADHD drugs including Adderall XR, Attenade, Biphentin, Concerta, Dexedrine, Ritalin, Ritalin SR and Strattera continues.
Copyright ©2006 Canadian Broadcasting Corporation – All Rights Reserved
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http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/ahc-asc/media/advisories-avis/2006/2006_91_e.html
Information Update
2006-91
September 21, 2006
For immediate release
New Information Regarding Uncommon Psychiatric Adverse Events For All ADHD Drugs
OTTAWA – Health Canada is informing Canadians that the prescribing and patient information for all drugs used for the management of ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) is being revised to provide information about the potential for psychiatric adverse events, including rare reports of agitation and hallucinations in children.
This update comes in light of an ongoing review of psychiatric events associated with the use of these drugs and follows Health Canada’s May 2006 Public Advisory regarding rare heart-related risks for all ADHD drugs. At that time, Canadians were advised not to use ADHD drugs if they have high blood pressure, heart disease or abnormalities, hardening of the arteries or an overactive thyroid gland. Standardized labeling that identified risk factors for rare heart-related side effects, and new recommendations to physicians were added to the prescribing information for all ADHD drugs.
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.
Patients taking ADHD drugs should consult with their physician if they have any questions or concerns.
Health Canada continues to monitor the safety of ADHD drugs and Canadians will continue to be informed if new safety information arises. These drugs include Adderall XR, Attenade, Biphentin, Concerta, Dexedrine, Ritalin, Ritalin SR and Strattera.
For more current information on ADHD prescribing and patient information, see Health Canada’s Public Advisory regarding New Cautions Regarding Rare Heart-Related Risks for All ADHD Drugs.
