New research from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has found that drugs prescribed to treat Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) can cause hallucinations in children, even when taken as directed. Children have hallucinated worms, bugs or snakes crawling on them while under the influence of this prescribed medication.
[social_buttons]
49 clinical studies were conducted by drug makers, and the results showed they can cause psychosis and mania in some patients, even those without obvious risk factors. The following ADHD drugs were studied: Novartis AG’s Ritalin and Focalin XR, Shire Plc’s Adderall XR and Daytrana patch, Johnson & Johnson’s Concerta, Eli Lilly and Co’s Strattera and Celltech Pharmaceuticals Inc’s Metadate CD.
Dr. Andrew Mosholder and colleagues wrote in Pediatrics about these possible side effects:
Patients and physicians should be aware of the possibility that psychiatric symptoms consistent with psychosis or mania.
As a parent, I am would seek alternative treatments if I had a child with ADHD, such as removing food coloring and additives from their diet. Since I am not such a parent, of course I can’t speak first hand about the neccessity of such medication, but the research is cause for alarm, especially since the drugmakers themselves have found these results. I am always amazed that the FDA relies on drug companies to conduct their own research. There is certainly a conflict of interest there, so when they actually do find harmful side effects, it should be taken seriously.
Image: thp365 on Flickr under a Creative Commons License
My son takes focalin xr, so to see this article disturbs me greatly. We have tried him on others meds such as adderall and concerta. He has taken add meds since age six and is now nine. I also had heard that removing food coloring and additives from their diet is moot. I am always looking for ways to improve my childs functioning level in a safe manner. I am also alarmed that the FDA confides in the drug companies to place safe or unsafe regulations for children meds.
Some people don’t know that Monosodium Glutamate (MSG) is a chemical in foods that produces ADD/ADHD symptoms. Eliminating this from a child’s diet, and the whole family’s for that matter, could help moods, depression, etc. This nasty substance is hidden in ‘natural and artificial flavors’ and sometimes just written out in the ingredients list. Some people have such extreme mood swings and mood alterations due to MSG. Try thinking about diet first, then, medication only if it eventually comes to it.
I don’t put much stock in what the FDA says. They’re a money driven organization – point blank. It’s depressing how the FDA let this drug, and others like BHA and MSG, violate the delicate bodies of society. By the way, BHA was banned from Japan in the 50s and was pulled from McD’s food in the late 80s, but still in most cured meats today. Cancer, anyone?
We’ve successfully treated our daughter’s ADHD with removal of food additives (she is on a 100% natural diet… no colors, no preservatives, no artificial flavorings) and with adding high quality vitamin and DHA supplements.
I will NEVER medicate my children for ADD/ADHD. It’s not necessary. My daughter’s teacher said that withing 7 weeks of starting the diet modifications, she was well within a “normal” range of behavior.
Drugs are not necessary… it just takes serious parental commitment and the help of natural minded MD’s.
My son is on Vyvanse now. When he was 5 his biological mother pushed for drugs saying he had ADHD. We thought his problems were due to post-traumatic stress syndrome as his mother as some severe issues. We told her that we wanted to try diets before drugs and she said that was ridiculous. We gave him the diet, but he still sees his mom so we didn’t feel the diet could take it’s full effect. His school kept saying that he couldn’t concentrate and that he was falling way behind. Finally at about age 7, we started him on drugs. After trying 3 different drugs Vyvanse seemed to do the trick. Now at age 10 he his starting to twitch involuntarily!!! We want to put him back on our diet and now that we have full custody and he only sees his mom every other weekend we hope to see results. This is a tough situation and when the other parent won’t cooperate the child suffers. We’re working on it though. Keep your fingers crossed!!!
Good job parents. Keep your kids popping those speed pills. I know its expensive but
one day your kids will wise up and start buying speed from a corner dealer. There’s no taxes and its cheaper. But for now at least you are supporting a good American company with values and ethics. In fact, pretty soon we should just mandate speed pills to newborns, gotta nip this add thing in the butt, catch it before it gets out of control, ya know. Yes yes more money out of your pocket into theirs but just like the commercials tell you over and over and over that’s just what it takes ok, so dont think to much about it now and just buy these pills and make everything better. Gooood gooood little sheeple.