Children Rx ADHD Drugs 7.4 times increased risk of sudden death

Children Rx ADHD Drugs 7.4 times increased risk of sudden death

http://www.ahrp.org/cms/content/view/609/9/

Children Rx ADHD Drugs 7.4 times increased risk of sudden death PDF Print
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Wednesday, 17 June 2009
But FDA says keep taking the "medicines." Empirical findings published in
the American Journal of Psychiatry lend validity to the long debated claim
by critics of stimulant drugs prescribed for ADHD: that the short and long
term risks are serious; the diagnosis, controversial; and the benefits are
short-lived.

The study, led by Dr. Madelyn Gould of the New York State Psychiatric
Institute and Columbia University, involved 564 children who died suddenly.
Those who had been taking stimulant drugs (i.e., amphetamines) were 7.4
times more likely to die of cardiac arrest (sudden death) than those not
taking stimulants.

ADHD remains a controversial behavioral "condition" about which there is no
consensus either about diagnostic criteria or appropriate treatment.
Therefore, the risk of cardiac arrest from a controversial treatment is
unethical.

The researchers state: "Although sudden unexplained death is a rare event,
this finding should be considered in the context of other data about the
risk and benefit of stimulants in medical treatment."

Not so, say FDA officials who were quick to defend the drugs, no doubt, in
order to help drug manufacturers, including: Shire Pharmaceuticals Group
PLC's Adderall, Johnson & Johnson's Concerta, Eli Lilly & Co.'s Strattera
and Novartis AG's Ritalin--maintain profit margins.

The FDA, which partly funded the study, said there isn't enough evidence to
conclude the drugs are dangerous and recommends people continue taking their
medications.

How many additional dead children will it take to convince these "public
servants" that their responsibility is protect children, not profit margins
of Shire, Johnson & Johnson, Eli Lilly and Novartis?

Posted by Vera Hassner Sharav