Drug Warning: Adderall

Manufactured and marketed by: Shire Pharmaceuticals

Purpose: For the treatment of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, a condition more commonly known as ADHD. Traditionally, ADHD was diagnosed only in children; however, the number of adults diagnosed with ADHD has increased significantly over the past few years.

Side Effects Reported

• Common side effects of difficulty sleeping, restlessness, nausea, irritability, loss of appetite, twitching, muscle tremor, and mood changes.
• Adderall is an amphetamine, which means there is a potential for abuse involved when taking the drug.
• Patients who use amphetamines for extended periods of time may develop a dependency.
• Since amphetamines raise blood pressure and pulse rate, there also exists a risk of cardiovascular side effects like heart attack or stroke.
• Adderall may be linked to additional negative effects including suppression of growth, weight loss, psychosis, and exacerbation of tics and Tourette's syndrome.

Industry Report

In 2005, Health Canada, the Canadian drug regulatory agency, suspended the sale of Adderall XR in Canada due to reports of the sudden deaths of 12 children in the United States who were prescribed Adderall XR. Those who died were all children between the ages of 7 and 16, and these deaths occurred between 1999 and 2003. Some of the children who died had known existing heart defects, which may have put them at a greater risk of severe side effects. In August of 2005, Adderall was allowed back on the market in Canada with new warning labels.

Patients who have underlying structural heart defects, such as abnormal arteries or valves and abnormally thickened walls, as well as patients with high blood pressure, blood vessel disease, overactive thyroid, or a history of drug abuse, may be at a higher risk of developing severe harmful side effects. These harmful side effects include the risk of sudden death. In 2004, the FDA made a label change for Adderall to include a warning that patients who suffer from these types of underlying heart defects are at an increased risk of suffering from harmful side effects.

Seeger Weiss is not currently pursuing lawsuits on this drug, but its drug warnings will remain on our radar.

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