Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is commonly diagnosed in our society. Although we are familiar with this diagnosis in children it is now being diagnosed like crazy in adults (without the hyperactivity component). We can directly thank the pharmaceutical industry for the drastic increase in these diagnoses and the concurrent increase in prescriptions for the drugs used to “treat” this disorder.

In my article “Children and ADHD” I stated that those who advocate the use of prescription drugs make light of the side-effects associated with these drugs. I continue to be amazed at how these drugs are prescribed without fully disclosing the potential and life-threatening dangers associated with the use of these pharmaceuticals. If you think that I am being melodramatic consider the NEW FDA warning regarding these drugs.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) Monday, August 21, 2006 - Several drugs to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder must include new warning information about the risk of heart problems and psychotic behavior, U.S. health officials said on Monday.

The interesting part disclosed in this same article was that the panel of “experts” were conflicting on whether they should warn patients about these serious findings.

“The FDA's decision comes months after two separate panels of outside experts offered conflicting opinions on whether the risks warranted the strongest warnings possible -- a so-called black box.”

So, the question has to be asked why they wouldn’t want people to know about these deadly side-effects. The answer to this question was also found in the Reuter’s article:
“In March, FDA advisers said new information about the risks should be added to the labels for attention deficit drugs. The outside experts stopped short of supporting a boxed warning, saying they did not want to scare off patients or their parents.”
And…
“Some doctors have expressed concern that new warnings could dampen use of the medicines, which the FDA has estimated see about 1 million prescriptions for adults and 2 million for children each month.”

They are concerned that patients may be scared away from using these medications that are NOT NEEDED in the VAST MAJORITY of patients! Is that concern for the patient or the profit? Please excuse me while I go beat my head against a wall.