WASHINGTON, Jun 15, 2009 (UPI via COMTEX) -- The U.S. Food and Drug
Administration says there may be a link between the use of ADHD drugs and sudden
cardiac death in healthy children.
The federal agency said the possible connection between attention-deficit
hyperactivity disorder medications and children's cardiac problems was found
during a study that was published in the American Journal of Psychiatry. But,
the FDA said that because of the study's limitations, parents should not stop a
child's stimulant medication, but should discuss the situation with the
prescribing healthcare professional.
The FDA said it "can not conclude that the data in the study affect the overall
risk-benefit profile of stimulant medications used to treat ADHD in children."
"The FDA continues to review drug safety information for stimulant medications
used to treat ADHD so that we can give health care professionals and families
the most up-to-date drug safety information available," said Dr. Janet Woodcock,
director of FDA's Center for Drug Evaluation and Research.
Additional i9nformation about the study is available at:
http://www.fda.gov/Drugs/DrugSafety/PostmarketDrugSafetyInformationforPatientsandProviders/DrugSafetyInformationforHeathcareProfessionals/ucm165858.htm.
URL: www.upi.com
Copyright 2009 by United Press International