Headline -- Adderal XR problems

Here is a link to an article. Apparently the FDA has evaluated the same information and decided that further action is not required.

http://www2.cbs5.com/health/health_story_041123016.html

Has anyone else chosen to stop using adderall?

Someone else started another thread on this topic, with more links. I have read some of the articles: apparently, yes, this is a rare side effect. In most cases it seems to come along with either pre-existing heart problems or other bad judgement (exhaustion and dehydration). However the risk is there, even if tiny. Definitely anyone who is taking Adderal should have a regular heart checkup, and keep your eyes open for more news.

I have stopped Adderall XR for my son

In all fairness, it is a combination of things. He is doing soooo well in school this year after homeschooling and remediating his reading last year.

I have often wondered if he could now go without. If perhaps the reading delay combined with the ADD was just too much to overcome and now that reading has improved, he could do it

The ban in Canada was enough to make me say, OK-its time

Now, what will I do if his grades plummet in such a way I dont feel he is learning enough to move forward? I cant say-hopefully, I wont have to make that decision

Today is day one without(he only took it for school so weekend was off anyway)

From what I can gather, this seems to be related to consisted high blood pressure or high pulse rate over time. The same thing has happened with Ritalin. Again, it is a rare phenomenon, but definitely something to watch for. In particular, if I had my child on a stimulant, I would want consistent measures of heart rate and blood pressure, and I would be concerned if either is consistently elevated over time. My understanding is that the heart can be working overtime if the blood vessels are too constricted and hence the high heart rate and high blood pressure. It seems from the stories I read that it is something that probably happens over a period of time, not from a few doses, but rather over a number of years. So I am guessing that the early signs would be the high bp and the increased pulse rate that seem to sometimes be associated with stimulant treatment. But I’m no doctor - that’s just food for thought from postings and articles I have read here and there. Also, this is rare enough that most doctors have probably never seen it, so you might have to be proactive if you have these concerns. Wish I had some definitive link to give you, but I don’t. Hope that is helpful!

To me it was a no brainer to take her off, but I am still waiting to hear from her doc. It is interesting that it is the extended release form that is a problem. I will be researching this and Ill let you know..

As I understand from reading and watching news, the XR form was the *only* form approved in Canada — so since the other forms were not on the market anyway, only the XR was taken off. Keep looking into this.

I can’t see why the XR version would be any different from regular, in terms of risk. The XR adderall consists of regular old adderall that releases immediately and the same medication is a time release form that releases four hours later. To me it is a no-brainer that a child with cardiovascular risk factors should not take any stimulants. From what I’ve read, the deaths at issue were all in kids who either had these risk factors, were receiving toxic dosages of the medication or, in one case, became dehydrated and suffered heat exhaustion. I’m not sure how much that tells us about the potential for cardiovascular events in kids without major risk factors. People should consult their doctors if they have concerns so that they can make an informed decision.

http://abclocal.go.com/wls/news/connectwithkids/122704_cwk_Adderall.html

But experts say even in small doses, the dangers of taking Adderall can range from headaches, increased heart rate and insomnia to things far worse.

“Any amphetamine has the potential to give someone an amphetamine psychosis,” warns Hayes. “So when you take a lot of amphetamines and you’re not sleeping, then you will literally hallucinate. … [You] will absolutely leave reality and become delusional and paranoid.”

http://forums.lycaeum.org/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic&f=8&t=001103

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The manufacturers of this drug will let anyone sell it. It can easily be gotten without a prescription. If the drug companies were not immoral they would make their products only available from pharmacies.