New Warning for Attention Deficit Drugs

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New Warning for Attention Deficit Drugs

AP

WASHINGTON (Feb. 21) - Drugs prescribed to treat attention deficit

hyperactivity disorder will include guides to alert patients and parents of the

risks of

mental and heart problems, including sudden death.

The Food and Drug Administration said Wednesday that it directed the

manufacturers of Ritalin, Adderall, Strattera and all other ADHD drugs to

develop the

guides. In May 2006, the agency told manufacturers to revise the labels of the

drugs to reflect concerns about the cardiovascular and psychiatric problems.

Draft versions of the guides posted on the FDA Web site include discussion of

reports of increased blood pressure and heart rate in ADHD patients, as well

as cases of sudden death in some who have heart problems and heart defects. In

adult patients, the reported problems also include stroke and heart attack.

The alerts also cover psychiatric problems, such as hearing voices, unfounded

suspicions and manic behavior, of which there is a slightly increased risk in

patients who take the drugs, the FDA said. The guides also tell patients and

their parents of precautions they can take to guard against the risks.

Affected Drugs

The FDA announced its order applies to 15 drugs:

· Adderall Tablets

· Adderall XR Extended-Release Capsules

· Concerta Extended-Release Tablets

· Daytrana Transdermal System

· Desoxyn Tablets

· Dexedrine Spansule Capsules and Tablets

· Focalin Tablets

· Focalin XR Extended-Release Capsules

· Metadate CD Extended-Release Capsules

· Methylin Oral Solution

· Methylin Chewable Tablets

· Ritalin Tablets

· Ritalin SR Sustained-Release Tablets

· Ritalin LA Extended-Release Capsules

· Strattera Capsules

Wednesday's announcement came roughly a year after two panels of FDA advisers

recommended that the drugs include such patient medication guides. The

announcement covers 15 drugs, including extended-release, patch and chewable

versions of some of them.

Ritalin is manufactured by Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corp. and in generic form

by other companies; Adderall is made by Shire Pharmaceuticals Inc.; Strattera

by Eli Lilly & Co.

ADHD affects an estimated 3 percent to seven percent of school-age children

and four percent of adults, the FDA said.

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