RE: Re: FDA: ADHD drugs killing too many kids; ritalin study 100% experience bad chromosonal changes

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This 2005 FDA funded study done at a Texas University followed 12 8-year old boys for three who started Ritalin. After just three months, 100% of the boys experienced a significant increase in abnormal chromosonal activity that would predispose them to a host of serious medical conditions including cancer and heart disease. I will find the FDA response, but it went something along the lines that nothing can be concluded and no further study was necessary because "it is obvious that all of these Ritalin kids are not dropping dead from cancer." http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/medicalnews.php?newsid=20433 I will find the FDSHolly Bortfeld <maximom@...> wrote: AMEN. I would like to see this report shoved down the throat of every teacher whoever told a parent "you need to medicate that kid to make it easier oneveryone". I would also love to show it to all the parents who chose the drugs overdiet because the diet was too dangerous or inconvenient. -----Original Message-----From: EOHarm [mailto:EOHarm ] On Behalf Of NanstielSent: Thursday, January 05, 2006 8:21 AMEOHarm Subject: Re: FDA: ADD/ADHD drugs killing too many kidsI'd prefer they're studied...from afar.Why not induce ADHD and ADD in gorillas or chimps... by poisoning them withmercury... then see what the ADD/ADHD drugs do to them?Of course, if you ask me, that's an exercise in absurdity. I think it's timewe place Bernie Rimland as the head of the CDC... and require every physician in the

countryto be trained by ARI!Can I get an amen?>> Just in case anyone still thinks ADD/ADHD drugs are safe, the FDA islooking> at new ways to study the drugs since so many kids keep DYING from them.> > > > > > FDA to Examine New Ways to Study ADD Drugs> > > > > > <javascript:eMail_Friend(540,%20540);> Email this Story> > Jan 4, 7:35 PM (ET)> > By ANDREW BRIDGES > > WASHINGTON (AP) - Reports of sudden deaths, strokes, heart attacks and> hypertension in both children and adults taking drugs to treat attention> deficit hyperactivity disorder are spurring new government study into the> medications' safety. > > Sales of drugs to treat ADHD have increased sharply

in recent years, with> use growing at a faster rate among adults than children, according to a> recent study by Medco Health Solutions, a prescription benefit manager.> Spending on ADHD drugs soared from $759 million in 2000 to $3.1 billion in> 2004, according to IMS Health, a pharmaceutical information and consulting> firm. > > The Food and Drug Administration said it had received reports of what it> called "serious adverse events" - including deaths - in association withthe> therapeutic use of the drugs. The agency considers the reports "rarethough> serious," FDA spokeswoman Bro said Wednesday. > > The FDA's Canadian counterpart, Health Canada, yanked the ADHD drugAdderall> XR from the market for six months last year in response to reports of 20> sudden deaths and 12 strokes in adults and children using the drug. Anumber> of the cases involved children

with structural heart defects. > > The panel eventually concluded there was inadequate evidence of increased> harm from Adderall XR compared with other available therapies - aconclusion> the FDA also reached based on data on hand. > > Now the U.S. regulatory agency is asking its Drug Safety and RiskManagement> advisory committee to examine ways of studying further the potential> cardiovascular risks of the drugs. The few studies that have looked at> longer-term use of ADHD drugs provide little information on those risks,the> FDA said. > > "It almost sounds like cox-2 inhibitor redux," said committee chairman Dr.> Gross, referring to cox-2 painkillers like Vioxx and Bextra pulled> from the market because of evidence they can raise the risk of a heart> attack or stroke. > > The committee is to meet Feb. 9 and 10 in Gaithersburg, Md. > >

"The issue of drug treatment of attention deficit disorder in children has> been a controversial one without this issue of cardiovascular risk too. It> adds another concern to what will certainly be an interestingconversation,"> said Arthur Levin, the FDA committee's consumer representative. > > A posting to the FDA Web site did not identify any of the drugs by name.> However, the most commonly used ADHD drugs include Adderall XR, made by> Shire Pharmaceuticals, and Ritalin, made by Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corp.> Various other companies make generic versions of Ritalin as well. > > Shire spokesman Cabrey said the company hadn't been told of the> meeting but added it may send representatives. Novartis did notimmediately> return a call seeking comment. > > The committee's Feb. 10 meeting will include updates on FDA actions oncox-2> drugs as well as a recently

begun patient, doctor and pharmacist registry> program for the anti-acne drug Accutane and its generic competitors. > > Separately, the committee also will discuss the FDA's Drug SafetyOversight> Board, an internal, government employee-only panel created nearly a year> ago. > > The board is supposed to monitor FDA-approved medicines once they're onthe> market and update physicians and patients with emerging information onrisks> and benefits. > > Gross said he had concerns about the board's impartiality andindependence,> as well as its relationship to his committee and the very similar work it> does. > > --- > > On the Net: > > Food and Drug Administration: http://www.fda.gov > > Medco Health Solutions: http://www.medcohealth.com/>