Kind of makes me wonder why Canada feels 20 sudden deaths and 12 strokes (all mostly in children) caused by Adderall XR is important enough to stop usage of the drug and the FDA here sees no reason to change anything in the US regarding the drug. These are our kids we are giving this stuff to. If the Detroit article cites the drug company as stating something about not using in certain cardiovascular situations, then why aren't we testing our kids hearts first - before giving the drug. I realize that the drug is very beneficial to hundreds of thousands of people, a whole lot more of the population than what it has killed or maimed; however, it bothers me when info like this comes out as not once has the psychologist, the psychiatrist, the pediatrician or even the druggist ever asked me - "hey - does she have any physical problems that we cant see, before we give her this drug"???? Just scares me and ticks me off.
I JUST READ THE POST ABOUT ADDERALL AND ADDERALL XR BEING WITHDRAWN IN CANADA BECAUSE OF 20 SUDDEN DEATHS AND 12 STROKES. I AM SURPRISED THAT THE FDA HAS NOT FOLLOWED SUIT. 12 OF THESE DEATHS HAPPENED RIGHT HERE IN THE USA. CHILDREN DIED. THAT IS HORRIBLE.
MY SON WAS PUT ON ADDERALL XR A YEAR AGO. A USUALLY GENTLE, NICE CHILD BECAME AGGRESSIVE, ARGUMENTIVE, DISRESPECTFUL, LETHARGIC, MOODY. I COULD NOT FIGURE OUT WHAT TO DO NEXT WHEN HE BROUGHT HOME A REPORT CARD WORSE THAN BEFORE HE WAS PUT ON THE MEDICINE FOR ADD! HE WOULD NOT, COULD NOT EAT, HIS HUNGER WOULD HIT HIM AT MIDNIGHT, WHEN I NEEDED HIM TO BE ASLEEP TO BE RESTED FOR SCHOOL THE NEXT DAY. IT WS HORRIBLE. A SMART NEUROLOGIST FINALLY TOOK HIM OFF THE ADDERAL AND PUT HIM ON RITALIN LA. HE IS DOING UNBELIEVEABLY!! HE IS EATING LUNCH AT SCHOOL. HE IS MAKING A AND B (1 C IN MATH- BUT HEY, I'LL TAKE IT!) HE IS EATING DINNER AT NIGHT, AND SLEEPING!!! THE CHANGE IS SO DRASTIC. I REMEMBER THINKING, THIS DRUG ADDERAL IS DANGEROUS. IF IT CAN ALTER A PERSON SO DRASTICALLY, IT CANNOT BE SAFE AT ALL. I RESEARCHED RITALIN SO I WOULD NOT GO THROUGH ANOTHER SIMILAR THING. IT TURNS OUT, RITALIN HAS BEEN SAFELY USED FOR ADD FOR OVER 50 TO 60 YEARS. (I HATED THE NAME RITALIN AND WHAT IT STOOD FOR) THE DOCTOR TOLD ME THAT ALL MEDICINE FOR ADD LIKE CONCERTA AND OTHERS ARE ALL THE SAME - JUST DIFFERENT NAMES.
BACK TO THE SITUATION IN CANADA AND HERE WITH THE FDA AND ADDERALL. IF MY CHILD WAS TAKING ADDERALL, TODAY WOUL D HAVE BEEN HIS LAST PILL. NO WAY. NOT WORTH IT. THE RISK IS TOO GREAT. IT IS NOT LIKE A RASH, IT IS HEART ATTACK OR STROKE! 20 DEATHS IN 3 YEARS IS ALOT. 12 STROKES IN 3 YEARS IS ALOT. IT IS HAPPENING TO OUR CHILDREN- AND THE FDA IS NOT PROTECTING THEM- THAT IS UNFORGIVABLE.
Because for one thing they don't have any SOLID way to prove that your heart is completely healthy.
Alot of people have heart problem's that don't show up untill later in life, not even in testing.
About the only SURE way to check a heart is an echo,dye stress test, cath
Feel free to correct me but I was told this by a heart doctor when I had mine checked.
FYI:
MedWatch - The FDA Safety Information and Adverse Event Reporting Program
FDA issued a Public Health Advisory to notify healthcare professionals that
Health Canada, the Canadian drug regulatory agency, has suspended the sale
of Adderall XR in the Canadian market. Adderall XR is a controlled release
amphetamine used to treat patients with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity
Disorder (ADHD). The Canadian action was based on U.S. post-marketing
reports of sudden deaths in pediatric patients. FDA is continuing to
evaluate these and other post-marketing reports of serious adverse events in
children, adolescents, and adults being treated with Adderall and related
products. Adderall XR is approved in the United States for the treatment of
adults and pediatric patients 6-12 years old with ADHD, and Adderall, the
immediate release formulation of the drug, is approved for pediatric
patients with ADHD.
Read the complete MedWatch 2005 Safety Summary, including links to the
Public Health Advisory, FDA Statement and other supporting information for
healthcare professionals and patients, at:
http://www.fda.gov/medwatch/SAFETY/2005/safety05.htm#Adderal l
Here is a link to another article about the Adderall XR:
http://www.freep.com/news/latestnews/pm2758_20050210.htm
I am so frusterated with this Canadian ban as I too have taken Adderall on & off for the past year. My doc has assured me time & time again of the safety as I have been extremely cautious knowing stimulants can be dangerous if abused. Now it sounds like they are flat out dangerous.
My previous conversations with my doc have been about potentially switching from Adderall XR to another stimulant (Concerta or Ritalin LA) but he has told me they are pretty much all the same in terms of safety. Does this mean we should all discontinue all stimulant meds for ADD/ADHD? I just feel so lost with all this and feel horrible for the parents who have children that really benefit from this medication as well as the many adults.
PLEASE keep posting any info all of you are hearing about details of this Canadian ban. I saw it on the news this morning and want to know if anyone has spoken with their (or their child's) doctor about these allegations.
Hbone
My Brother got off of Adderall a few weeks ago. He also had aggressive behaviors with the medication. I'm glad he was switched. However, I feel sorry for the parents who have lost their children to this medication.Adderall XR has been the only med that has worked well with my son. Now I don't know what to do.