Accidental overdoses and side effects from attention deficit drugs likely send thousands of children and adults to emergency rooms, according to the first national estimates of the problem.

Scientists at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimated problems with the stimulant drugs drive nearly 3,100 people to ERs each year. Nearly two-thirds — overdoses and accidental use — could be prevented by parents locking the pills away, the researchers say.

Other patients had side effects, including potential cardiac problems such as chest pain, stroke, high blood pressure and fast heart rate.
Accidental overdoses and side effects from attention deficit drugs likely send thousands of children and adults to emergency rooms, according to the first national estimates of the problem.

Scientists at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimated problems with the stimulant drugs drive nearly 3,100 people to ERs each year. Nearly two-thirds — overdoses and accidental use — could be prevented by parents locking the pills away, the researchers say.

Other patients had side effects, including potential cardiac problems such as chest pain, stroke, high blood pressure and fast heart rate.
Accidental overdoses and side effects from attention deficit drugs likely send thousands of children and adults to emergency rooms, according to the first national estimates of the problem.

Scientists at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimated problems with the stimulant drugs drive nearly 3,100 people to ERs each year. Nearly two-thirds — overdoses and accidental use — could be prevented by parents locking the pills away, the researchers say.

Other patients had side effects, including potential cardiac problems such as chest pain, stroke, high blood pressure and fast heart rate.
Concerns over those effects have led some doctors to urge the Food and Drug Administration to require a "black box," its most serious warning, on package inserts for drugs such as Ritalin, Concerta and Adderall. Yet even doctors advising the FDA don't agree on whether that's warranted.

The issue was discussed in a series of letters in Thursday's New England Journal of Medicine, including some from doctors worried about the dangers of not treating attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.

"The numbers (of side effects) are puny compared to the numbers of stimulant prescriptions per year," said Dr. Tolga Taneli, a child and adolescent psychiatrist at University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey in Newark. "I'm not alarmed."

3.3 million on ADHD pills
An estimated 3.3 million Americans who are 19 or younger and nearly 1.5 million ages 20 and older are taking ADHD medicines. Ritalin is made by Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corp. of East Hanover, N.J.; Concerta by Johnson & Johnson of New Brunswick, N.J., and Adderall by Shire US Inc. of Newport, Ky.

Twenty-five deaths linked to ADHD drugs, 19 involving children, were reported to FDA from 1999 through 2003. Fifty-four other cases of serious heart problems, including heart attacks and strokes, were also reported. Some of the patients had prior heart problems.

Still, there hasn't been a clear estimate of the scope of side effects. The CDC report, while not a rigorous scientific study, attempts to provide that by using a new hospital surveillance network.


THANX TO LISA MY SIS TOOK MY NEPHEW OFF 3 YRS. AGO & SOME FRIENDS TOO WHEN I MADE THEM LISTEN TO TWIMC (THE SONG)

I'm sure there are more than 19 children overdosing on more simpler drugs than ADHD drugs like Tylenol or something. You can overdose on anything and I'm sorry to say it but there ARE kids who need ritalin.. seriously I can name QUITE a few.

"If you can't even stop the symptoms. Then why in the hell do you drug the children. The others can make their own decisions. And with some help from you they become dependant."

I think this is really a profound lyric from our girl!

yeah. im with the Dr. Taneli..."I'm not alarmed." its being prescribed to people who dont need it !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! its all about the money.

This is a huge problem in our society today, that just keeps getting worse. At my summer job, I come across health forms for kids and its disturbing to see them. I have seen ages 5-17 taking prozac, zoloft, adderal, ritalin, etc........ There are kids who take more than one medication!! It really makes me sick that these kids are exposed to these drugs at a young age. The drugs are a new way of parenting these days

ALOT of GOOD doctors dont prescribe prozac anymore.

any medication has side effects and any medication can be abused. The only reason this is even an issue is because the press make it an issue. My brother was on Ritalin for a long time. Doctor told my parents it may have side effects. Such as it may stunt his growth. At 6'2" and 190 lbs and wearing a size 12 and a half shoe then I am glad it stunted his growth. It amazes me that if a person is in a wheelchair then no one questions the disability or treatments of such disablity. As soon as its a invisible disability such as depression or ADD/ADHD then everyone and their mother gets on the bandwagon questioning its existence and eventually its treatment. I can tell you from personal experience ADD/ADHD exists and that with treatments it can be managed very well. The treatment can vary by person to person because just like with a cancer treatment the medication is not one size fits all. What works for one person may not work for another. I have been on medications for various things since early childhood. Some of my medications help keep me alive. Medication is not evil and should not be portrayed that way. There should be no stigma attached to taking medications or for the conditions that are being treated.

I'd also like to point out that swimming pools and automobiles send thousands to the E.R every year as well. But I will not stop swimming or driving. Where is the headlines on that? They don't make those headlines cause they don't sell newspapers.

Amen Epi, Thanks for sharing. Very well said.

that sheit is poison!!

I agree with Epip 100%. But as a Mother with a son with ADHD I am concerned with how easy it is for schools and Dr's to put these kids on drugs at such a young age. I am about to get into a custody battle when I get back stateside because my ex's parents have managerial custody because both my ex and I are in the military and are deployed a lot. Well my ex's mother abused that power and has for years had my son on more medication than he needs to be just so she can control him. They have over medicated my son so bad that at times he is a zombie and then they decide "Oh we can't do that to him" and cut him off, only to find his behavior off the chart and because they do not want to be smart and they are lazy, they put the poor kid back on the same da mned meds as before. Of course he is acting odd and at times unmanagable...what would they be like if they were contantly yanked on and off high powered medications and going thru either withdrawls or over medicated?

Children have long had attention problems, its not a new thing but before they had all these so called moderen medicines and machines what did they do? They worked with the child without the use of mind altering drugs! Wow..what a f'ckn concept!!!