Strattera Linked to Suicidal Thoughts in Children
Adding to the “Black Box” warning that Strattera can cause liver problems comes a new warning that Strattera can cause suicidal thoughts in children taking the ADHD drug.
The FDA is now making the company put a warning label on its product about the Strattera/child suicide connection. This newest warning, released Sept. 29 2005, is the result of re-analzed trial data. At the request of the FDA, Lilly re-analyzed its data from trials performed on 1,357 children and adolescents. Of them, five children reported having suicidal thoughts, including one child who attempted suicide. Not one child in the 851 children studied in the placebo group had suicidal thoughts or actions.
About 3.4 million people have used Strattera since it became available in 2003. Of those, about 75 percent are children.Lilly issued its first Black Box warning – the strongest warning that can be attached to a prescription medication – in 2004 when studies showed the Strattera caused detrimental effects on the liver.
At the FDA’s request, Lilly will add the “Black Box” warning about suicidal thoughts, as well as publish a guide for doctors and pharmacists to give to patients taking Strattera. Lilly will also put the warning label on boxes that are sold in other countries.
There have been numerous other issues relating to ADHD medications in 2005;
The simple fact is that ADHD medications have risks and some of these risks are quite serious. It is a growing opinion that these high-powered drugs should be a last resort instead of the first course of treatment in addressing Attention Deficit Disorder. There are viable options and alternatives to pharmaceutical medications.
These alternatives include diet modifications, increased exercise – especialy outdoors exercise, talk therapy, biofeedback, life coaching and nutritional supplementation.