Last week, an FDA advisory committee voted to recommend adding ‘black box’ safety warnings to ADHD drugs. This week, the director of the FDA’s division of psychiatry products says it would be unusual for the agency to issue a ‘black box’ warning based on such thin evidence. A second FDA committee, which focuses on pediatrics, will consider the drugs’ safety next month.
It’s official: an FDA science advisory committee has voted to recommend the most serious type of ‘black box’ warning labels for Ritalin and other stimulants used in the treatment of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.
Twenty-five people died suddenly and another 54 suffered serious cardiovascular problems after taking drugs to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder between 1999 and 2003, according to a report from the US government’s Food and Drug Administration. The report says that children accounted for 19 of the deaths and 26 of the cases of nonfatal cardiovascular problems, including heart attack, stroke, hypertension, palpitations and arrhythmia.
Whether just for fun or for more serious clinical screening purposes, psychological tests and quizzes can provide independent and objective feedback about how you’re feeling. Our new section includes self-tests for depression, anxiety, ADHD, bipolar disorder, and more. You can even test yourself for ‘internet addiction’ if you really want to! The new section also provides some information about the serious side of psychological screening, including US government guidance on depression screening.
The US Food and Drug Administration has indicated it will approve a patch for treating attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in children, provided that the manufacturers agree to certain changes in how the ADHD patch will be labelled and agree to monitor the product once it is on the market.
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