Complain about a product or service

ADHD Meds Seen as Safe for Kids

New research refutes fears that medicines cause genetic damage

November 21, 2008

ADHD Special Report: Two Sides of ADHD • Doping the Young: the ADHD Dilemma • ADHD: A Real Disorder Needs Real Treatment --- News • FDA Disputes Link Between ADHD Medications and Kids' Heart Problems • ADHD Meds Seen as Safe for Kids • Heart Tests Needed for ADHD Children • Study: Ritalin Can Impact Brain Development • FDA Wants Stronger Warnings on ADHD Drugs • Study Finds Ritalin Safe for Pre-Schoolers • Politicians Likely to Suffer from AD/HD • Many Children With ADHD Not Being Treated • FDA Approves ADHD Patch • FDA Withdraws Approval for ADHD Drug • Childhood ADHD May Lead to Smoking in Adulthood • Canada Pulls Adderall After 20 Deaths • FDA Issues Suicide Warning on ADHD Drug • FTC Files Against Natural Organics, Inc.

In contrast to recent findings, two of the most common medications used to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder do not appear to cause genetic damage in children who take them as prescribed, according to a new study by researchers at the National Institutes of Health and Duke University Medical Center.

The study published online this month in the Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (JAACAP) provides new evidence that therapeutic doses of stimulant medications, such as methylphenidate and amphetamine, do not cause chromosomal damage in humans.

The researchers looked at three measures of cytogenetic damage in white blood cells of each child participating in the study and found no evidence of any changes after three months of continuous treatment.

"This is good news for parents," said Kristine L. Witt, M.Sc., a genetic toxicologist at the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences and co-author on the study. "Our results indicate that methylphenidate- and amphetamine-based products do not induce cytogenetic damage in children."

The researchers involved emphasize that the findings should not be interpreted as final proof of the long-term safety of stimulant drugs for the treatment of ADHD.

"More research and close monitoring of children taking these medications for extended periods of time is needed to fully evaluate the physical and behavioral effects of prolonged treatment with stimulants," noted Scott H. Kollins, Ph.D., director of the Duke ADHD Program and a co-author of the paper.

ADHD is a disorder characterized by attention problems, impulsivity, and hyperactivity. About 3 to 5 percent of children in the United States have been diagnosed with the disorder, although several studies suggest 7 to 12 percent of children may be affected.

Report Your Experience
If you've had a bad experience -- or a good one -- with a consumer product or service, we'd like to hear about it. All complaints are reviewed by class action attorneys and are considered for publication on our site. Knowledge is power! Help spread the word. File your consumer report now.

Share		Follow us on Twitter.