ADHD drug caution issued
TORONTO — Health Canada is revising its prescribing and patient information for all ADHD drugs in Canada to add the "potential for psychiatric adverse events."
These have included rare events of agitation and hallucinations in children, spokesman Paul Duchesne said Thursday from Ottawa.
ADHD, or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, is a neurobiological disorder marked by poor attention, impulsivity and hyperactivity. Left untreated, children with the condition may have behaviour problems and trouble learning in school.
Up to five per cent of Canadian kids are believed to have ADHD. Last year, more than two million prescriptions for the drugs were written in Canada.
Government officials are conducting an ongoing review of ADHD drugs and are discussing updated labelling with manufacturers, which should be completed by December, Duchesne said.
"Canadians taking ADHD medication should consult with their doctor if they have any questions or concerns," he said, noting that patients should never stop taking ADHD medication without consulting with their doctor.
Canadian adverse drug reaction reports from 2000 to 2005 list about two dozen cases of mood, personality and psychological reports among ADHD drug users, but there is no way of knowing whether the drugs caused the problems. There were three suicides.
Dr. Umesh Jain, a child psychiatrist who is head of the Canadian ADHD Resource Alliance, said Thursday that Health Canada is right in its message that doctors should "be cautious, be prudent" — but he doesn’t think the advice is anything new.
A properly diagnosed patient on ADHD drugs, taking the correct dosage, would not have a problem with agitation and hallucinations, he said.
"Because what’s happening is you’re taking the patient to a normalization state with the medications. When medications are diverted and abused, they are potentially at risk for developing hallucinations, delusional beliefs, etc."
The new ADHD medications are long-acting, once-a-day preparations and have "low diversion potential," said Jain, who works at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health and Toronto Hospital for Sick Children.
"If you were somebody who was going to use an excess amount, well beyond that of the range of the ADHD profile, yeah, they can potentially cause those problems."
He said Health Canada is trying to be cautious in alerting the population about all potential risks — "partly I think because the medications are being so widely used."
Jain said the Health Canada statement will likely cause some patients to be worried.
"We have to find ways of calming our patients down and say ‘Look, these aren’t going to cause you hallucinations and delusions in the doses that we prescribe to you,’ " he said.
It’s the second revision to the patient information on ADHD drugs this year. In May there was a warning that identified heart-related risks associated with ADHD drugs.
At the time, Health Canada advised Canadians not to use Strattera, Dexedrine, Ritalin, Ritalin SR, Concerta, Attenade, Biphentin and Adderall XR if they have moderate to severe high blood pressure, heart disease or abnormalities, hardened arteries or an overactive thyroid gland.
Friday, September 22, 2006
WOMEN WERE MARCHING THE STREETS IN FREDERICTON TONIGHT!!!
While sitting at my computer this evening. I heard some loud shouting noise from the streets. It was a group of females marching the streets demanding that violence against women come to a stop.
I decided to run outside and take some picture. Allison Brewer was in the crowd.
It was the first time I saw her since the Election. I gave her a little supportive hug. I told her that she did very good for a rookie. It has nothing to do with Allison.
The issue of abortion and gays are a very touchy issue.
In my opinion, she did a good job and should walk with her head up
I decided to run outside and take some picture. Allison Brewer was in the crowd.
It was the first time I saw her since the Election. I gave her a little supportive hug. I told her that she did very good for a rookie. It has nothing to do with Allison.
The issue of abortion and gays are a very touchy issue.
In my opinion, she did a good job and should walk with her head up
FRIENDS OF BRIAN PERREAULT, THE BEST HOT DOGGER AROUND THIS NECK OF THE WOODS!
Hey Charles, your guy may have the best hot dogs and sausages in Fredericton, but Brian Perreault (shown pictured) has, and was voted best Sausage in Saint John, NB (See Here weekly award, pictured, for 2006) Just wanted to share that with your lovely readers.
Signed:
FRIENDS OF BRIAN PERREAULT, THE BEST HOT DOGGER AROUND THIS NECK OF THE WOODS !
Please blog if you can!
Signed:
FRIENDS OF BRIAN PERREAULT, THE BEST HOT DOGGER AROUND THIS NECK OF THE WOODS !
Please blog if you can!
VENDOR SELLS BEST SAUSAGE, HOT DOGS AND SAMOSA'S IN THE CITY!!!
He's located across the Victory Meat Market during the weekend.
Charles comes face to face in the dark with a former Quebec worker from the New Brunswick Legislature!!!
Jean-Claude is a nice guy. He retired last year from the Library. I first met the guy in the summer of 2002 and it was it was then that I found out that most workers at the New Brunswick Legislature are from Quebec.
Jocelyn Stevens office manager of P.R.U.D.E. inc!!!!
She's a sweetheart. I might add that my cousin Freddie LeBlanc is a volunteer at P.R.U.D.E. also!!
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