New FDA warnings | ADHD Information
I got this email from my local CHADD leader. Thought it was pretty funny.
"You may have read the news recently that the FDA will require a warning on stimulant medications for AD/HD. I have only heard of medication problems when people with pre-existing conditions have taken stimulant medications and even then the problems have been easily ameliorated. I thought you might enjoy another CHADD coordinators' take on why the politicized FDA is taking this position, and she created her own warning:
"This medication may cause side effects that have never been
documented and will probably never happen and we don't even know what
they might or might not be so we don't really know what to print on
this label, but the anti-psychiatry fringe has raised such a hue and
cry that we have to put something scary on here (other than the scary
fact that the anti-psychiatry fringe even exists) so here is
something to keep Tom you-know-who and his rabid deluded buddies from
further ranting at poor Matt Lauer and to appease those who have
fallen for that poppycock so if you experience any strange sensations
when taking this medication (other than the anticipated and much
hoped-for sensation of focusing on the world around you without
hyperfocusing, attending to boring work/schoolwork/lectures from your
mom/spouse/teacher/significant other, staying seated, etc.) you
should contact your physician immediately rather than your local
Dianetics Center, thank you for your support."
LOVE IT!!
CHADD receives money from pharmacutical companies.
I guess I'm feeling like a wet blanket this morning. It's really hard to give your child stimulants when they have heart disease, especially when the FDA wags it's warning finger at you. The CHADD person may think that with heart disease "even then the problems have been easily ameliorated," but if you make the wrong decision, you would probably drop dead from self-induced psychological torture. The CHADD person is delivering this opinion to receptive people who are medicating, but if she delivered it to a congenital heart disease support group, the reception would be a little different. The dianetics reference could very well warrant a ripe tomato in the face. The label says don't prescribe stims for people who have structural abnormalities of the heart, and it seems to me that it should say this. The label isn't for the population with normal hearts, it's for the population with abnormal hearts. Ok, ok, I'll stop now... otherwise this might get transferred to the debate board!!
You are right about the heart issues NoTellin. And I think all kids (and adults) should be tested and the parents given proper information before starting any long term treatment.
It the blowing everthing out of proportion as though the meds actually cause heart problems (to scare people away from an effective treatment), that the comments are making fun of. My hubby could have benefitted from meds
, but with cardiomyopathy, it would never be an option. That does not mean we should throw the meds out for the many who would benefit. This applies to other effective treatments for the many things that plague us (e.g. penicillin meds will kill those who are allergic, but they are effective and safe for the vast majority). We just need to have good information on the risks and doctors that discuss these issues and adhere to proper precautions prior to writting that prescription.
You are correct about how important it is to consider the audience when making any comments. And CHADD does recieve 17-28% of thier donations from pharmaceutical companies (years 2002-2006). Thier annual donations are on the website.
vickie39140.6516550926[QUOTE=NoTellin]CHADD receives money from pharmacutical companies.
It's really hard to give your child stimulants when they have heart disease, especially when the FDA wags it's warning finger at you. [/QUOTE]
Very good points! The warnings are definitely important -- especially since I often hear that doc's are extremely eager to write 'scrips and don't issue warnings (or tests!)