MedWatch
Written by Mental Health Advocate and Executive Director of The Citizens Commission on Human Rights of Florida
Laurie Anspach
Psychiatry would have us believe that children can be justifiably used as guinea pigs for their experimental use of mind-altering drugs. The Black Box warning that is placed on some of these psychotropic drugs is a FDA label that warns consumers of the risk of suicide when taking the drugs.
This is the strongest warning placed on prescriptions and we need to challenge the practice of administering these pills to children.
In examining the label on just one psychotropic drug, Adderall, we find that there is cause for alarm. Most parents and individuals are not fully informed about the side effects. This is unfortunate, only in that many lives are lost along the way as children do end up with diabetes, excessive weight gain, sudden death and suicide.
Ask yourself, who is left behind after the child suicide, after the black box warning is proven correct? The answer to that question is: The family and friends!
To start, the FDA has a specific warning that informs the reader, that Adderall was temporarily suspended in Canada and the reasons why.
“FDA ALERT [2/2005] Health Canada Suspends Marketing of Adderall
Health Canada has suspended marketing of Adderall XR products from the Canadian market due to concern about reports of sudden unexplained death (SUD) in children taking Adderall and Adderall XR. SUD has been associated with amphetamine abuse and reported in children with underlying cardiac abnormalities taking recommended doses of amphetamines, including Adderall and Adderall XR. In addition, a very small number of cases of SUD have been reported in children without structural cardiac abnormalities taking Adderall. At this time, FDA cannot conclude that recommended doses of Adderall can cause SUD, but is continuing to carefully evaluate these data.”
On the FDA labeling, of Adderall, you will find the following warning:
“AMPHETAMINES HAVE A HIGH POTENTIAL FOR ABUSE. ADMINISTRATION OF AMPHETAMINES FOR PROLONGED PERIODS OF TIME MAY LEAD TO DRUG DEPENDENCE AND MUST BE AVOIDED. PARTICULAR ATTENTION SHOULD BE PAID TO THE POSSIBILITY OF SUBJECTS OBTAINING AMPHETAMINES FOR NONTHERAPEUTIC USE OR DISTRIBUTION TO OTHERS, AND THE DRUGS SHOULD BE PRESCRIBED OR DISPENSED SPARINGLY. MISUSE OF AMPHETAMINE MAY CAUSE SUDDEN DEATH AND SERIOUS CARDIOVASCULAR ADVERSE EVENTS.”
Additionally, here are a few of the warnings the FDA places on this drug:
Sudden Death and Pre-existing Structural Cardiac Abnormalities or Other Serious Heart Problems
Emergence of New Psychotic or Manic Symptoms
Aggression
Long-Term Suppression of Growth
Seizures
Visual Disturbance
Tics
Parents and individuals can contact MedWatch to report any adverse reactions to Adderall or any of the psychotropics.
- 1-800-332-1088
- 1-800-FDA-0178 Fax
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