All pharmaceutical medications have the risk of side effects than range in severity. Drugs used to treat ADHD, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, often contain stimulants. These stimulant drugs have been linked to an increase of sudden unexplained death, as reported by ABC News. With 5.2 million children diagnosed in the U.S. as having ADHD, there are concerns about the dangers of these drugs for children and teens.
Sudden Death Danger of ADHD and Anti-Depressant Drugs
Children and Teens who are taking stimulant ADHD drugs and anti-depressants are at risk for serious side effects, including death. ABC News reported on the case of a 14-year old boy, who died suddenly one morning after taking his morning ADHD medications.
The child was on the medication Aderall XR, a stimulant used to treat ADHD symptoms. Shortly after taking his medication, he was found collapsed on the floor. Despite CPR from his father, he was dead before paramedics could reach him.
In 2005, Adderall XR was pulled from Canadian shelves by Health Canada, due to concerns of sudden cardiac death and stroke. Of the 20 reported sudden deaths, fourteen involved children. Health Canada allowed Adderall XR back on the shelves because it could not be proven that the drug caused the death. Health Canada did require the company to add more warnings of side effects to the drug and that it is not recommended for anyone with a history of sudden cardiac death.
Effectiveness of ADHD and Anti-Depressants for Children and Teens
It is common for doctors to suggest pharmaceutical medications for children and teens who suffer from mental illnesses, but parents and caregivers must understand the potential side effects before deciding on a treatment plan.
With 5.2 million children diagnosed as having ADHD in the U.S, and the majority of them on medications, the side effects differ between individuals. Some children and teens have no side effects at all and respond wonderfully to the treatment. What works for one may not work for the other, however, and it's important to ask your doctor and pharmacist about the medications you are considering. It's also important to understand the potential side effects and watch for any early symptoms, to prevent them from worsening.
Anti-Depressant Dangers For Children and Teens
Children and Teens who are diagnosed with ADHD are often on more than one medication. Those who express behavioral problems may be on a stimulant for the ADHD symptoms and an anti-depressant for mood problems.
Reported in June 2011 by the Daily Mail, was the sad story of a 10-year old boy, who took his own life by hanging himself with his belt. In this case, the child was on a combination of Ritalin, another stimulant, and Prozac, an anti-depressant. An inquest in to the death reported that the child had higher levels of drugs in his body than adults would have had for the same condition.
Safety Regulations for Giving Children and Teens ADHD Drugs
There are very few safety precautions in place when prescribing ADHD drugs for children or teens. A child's doctor or psychiatrist will asses the child based on observation of their behavior in a variety of settings and then, after taking a short medical history, will prescribe the drug he or she feels will best treat the symptoms.
While guidelines say these drugs are not to be given to children under the age of six, investigations have shown that children as young as 15 months have been given these drugs. ADHD is typically not diagnosed until the child enters school, as it is hard to distinguish between normal child's behavior and disruptive ADHD behavior that requires medical intervention.
If your child is on ADHD medications or anti-depressants, it's important to have regular checkups with your doctor, to monitor the levels of medication in the blood and to ensure the dosage is correct.
Caregivers should also watch for signs of increased depression and the potential for suicide attempts. The Canadian Mental Health Association tells people to watch for the following signs: Repeated expressions of hopelessness, despair, Depression and loss of interest; Behavior that is out of character for that person; Strong mood changes; Giving away prized possessions or making a list of final wishes; Speaking of death and/or suicide directly. If a caregiver suspects the child is having suicidal thoughts it should be taken seriously and given medical attention right away.
Children and Teens Who Have Died From Taking ADHD Medications
Collected from The National Alliance Against Mandated Mental Health Screening and Psychiatric Drugging of Children, is a list of some of the children and teens who have died from taking ADHD drugs:
- Female (11 years old) - Ritalin.
- Female (10 years old) - Desipramine.
- Male (14 years old) - Ritalin.
- Male (12 years old) - Strattera. Suicide.
- Female (15 years old) - Concerta. Suicide.
- Male (7 years old) - Ritalin and 3 other psychiatric drugs. Cardiac Arrest.
- Male (9 years old) - Dexedrine and other drugs. Cardiac Arrest.
- Male (12 years old) - Desipramine.
- Male (10 years old) - Ritalin and Prozac. Suicide.
- Male (14 years old) - Adderall XR.
Diagnosis and Treatments for ADHD
Currently, diagnosis of ADHD relies completely on observation of the child's behavior and attention span compared to his peers. A doctor will ask parents, caregivers and educators to complete a questionnaire of the child's behavior in a variety of settings. Once all the answers are in, the results are compared to a diagnostics manual, currently the DSM-IV, and a treatment plan will be prepared from there.
With no definitive way to test for ADHD, there leaves great room for error and misdiagnosis. According to a study done by Todd Elder, one million children may be misdiagnosed with ADHD simply because they are the youngest of their peer groups. Children who have birthdays later in the year can be almost a year younger than their peers and as a result, may be perceived as having ADHD.
Current treatments for ADHD include pharmaceutical drugs as well as natural treatments such as behavioral modification techniques, education and use of herbal remedies.
Disclaimer:
The information contained in this article is for educational purposes only and should not be used for diagnosis or to guide treatment without the opinion of a health professional. Any reader who is concerned about his or her health should contact a doctor for advice.
Sources:
ABC News
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
The National Alliance Against Mandated Mental Health Screening and Psychiatric Drugging of Children
Canadian Mental Health Association
Tamara Laschinsky - Health and wellness advocate, author, researcher and owner of Natural e GREEN: Natural Health & Wellness store!
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