Fearmongering on kids’ meds remains a staple at CBS....
ADHD Meds May Hike Kids' Heart Risks
Dr. Jennifer Ashton Discusses New Research Linking Stimulant Drugs and Sudden Death
NEW YORK, June 15, 2009
(CBS) Are ADHD medications safe for children?
Research released Monday by The American Journal of Psychiatry gives more support to the claim that stimulant drugs usually prescribed for ADHD could increase the risk of sudden unexplained death in children. On The Early Show Monday, CBS News medical correspondent Dr. Jennifer Ashton what the study might mean for the 2.5 million children taking medication for the disorder.
Ashton said alternative therapies, such as chiropractic care or dietary changes, are also available for children with ADHD. She said they can be used as a replacement or compliment to their current treatment.
Yeah... Cina, also known as octopus cactus from Mexico, that is supposed to work too.
Meanwhile the FDA rode the rescue with a dose of sanity....
FDA Issues Safety Communication about an Ongoing Review of Stimulant Medications Used in Children with ADHD
June 15, 2009
There may be an association between the use of stimulant medications for attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, known as ADHD, and sudden cardiac death in healthy children, according to a study published in the American Journal of Psychiatry. But the U.S. Food and Drug Administration says that, because of the study’s limitations, parents should not stop a child’s stimulant medication based on the study. The FDA recommends that parents should discuss concerns about the use of these medications with the prescribing health care professional.
The FDA can not conclude that the data in the study affect the overall risk-benefit profile of stimulant medications used to treat ADHD in children.
The study’s limitations include:
--a significant time lag between the dates when the deaths occurred and collection of the data;
--the difference in circumstance of death may have accounted for a difference in family or caregiver recall of information relating to medication use at the time of death;
--sudden unexplained death in a child would be more likely to trigger a post-mortem inquiry into the cause of death than death due to blunt force trauma as a result of a motor vehicle collision; and
--there was a low frequency of stimulant use reported in both the study group and the control group.
--the difference in circumstance of death may have accounted for a difference in family or caregiver recall of information relating to medication use at the time of death;
--sudden unexplained death in a child would be more likely to trigger a post-mortem inquiry into the cause of death than death due to blunt force trauma as a result of a motor vehicle collision; and
--there was a low frequency of stimulant use reported in both the study group and the control group.
The FDA and the National Institute of Mental Health provided funds for the study, authored by Madelyn S. Gould, Ph.D. of Columbia University.
“The FDA continues to review drug safety information for stimulant medications used to treat ADHD so that we can give health care professionals and families the most up-to-date drug safety information available,” said Janet Woodcock, M.D., director of the FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research.
Media Inquiries: Sandy Walsh, 301-796-4669, sandy.walsh@fda.hhs.gov
Consumer Inquiries: 888-INFO-FDA
Read more hereMedia Inquiries: Sandy Walsh, 301-796-4669, sandy.walsh@fda.hhs.gov
Consumer Inquiries: 888-INFO-FDA
