The FDA has issued new warnings for many of the medications prescribed to treat some of the common symptoms of ADHD. Included on the list are Ritalin, Adderal, Concerta, Focalin, Strattera among others. The FDA is requiring additional drug guidance to address concerns about the following:
" reports of serious cardiovascular adverse events in patients taking usual doses of ADHD products revealed reports of sudden death in patients with underlying serious heart problems or defects, and reports of stroke and heart attack in adults with certain risk factors.
Another FDA review of ADHD medicines revealed a slight increased risk (about 1 per 1,000) for drug-related psychiatric adverse events, such as hearing voices, becoming suspicious for no reason, or becoming manic, even in patients who did not have previous psychiatric problems.
FDA recommends that children, adolescents, or adults who are being considered for treatment with ADHD drug products work with their physician or other health care professional to develop a treatment plan that includes a careful health history and evaluation of current status, particularly for cardiovascular and psychiatric problems (including assessment for a family history of such problems)."
The bottom-line message is that under IDEA 2004 and for good sound medical reasons, decisions regarding medications should be decided in a doctor's office not at an IEP meeting.
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