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The CDC Defines ADHD As A “Neurobehavioral Disorder Characterized By Pervasive Inattention And/Or Hyperactivity-Impulsivity And Resulting In Significant Functional Impairment.” ADHD—Also Known As Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder—Affects Many People In This Country. That Is Why We've Decided To Launch This Site. Welcome To ADHDupdates.com. This Site Is A Free Information Resource That Will Answer All Your Questions About ADHD. As
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Old Me New Me
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A New ADHD Drug on the Horizon
Author: Jeannine Virtue
A new ADHD drug, Attenace, will likely hit pharmacy shelves in early 2006. This "new" ADHD drug isn't actually so new to the about 20,000 people currently taking Provigil "off-label" for ADHD. Attenace contains modafinil, the same active ingredient in the narcolepsy drug Provigil.
Modafinil is a stimulant drug that is chemically unrelated to the other stimulant ADHD medications. Although Attenace is a stimulant medication, it is not classified as a controlled substance under the Controlled Substance Act. This translates to the convenience of phone-in refills and less prescription hassles at the pharmacy.
Attenace has a different chemical structure but it still poses many side effects consistent with the side effects of the other stimulant ADHD medications. There are also a few new side effects, like sexual dysfunction, that adults might find less than pleasant.
Before you knock on your doctor's door asking for a prescription, there are a few things you should know about this new ADHD medication.
First, it is not known how well Attenance will work or how it compares in effectiveness to the current ADHD drugs since the three trials conducted on Attenace only compared Attenace to a placebo instead of to its potential competitors. Cephalon conducted three 9-week double-blind, placebo-controlled studies of more than 600 children and adolescents between the ages of six and 17 with ADHD. Cephalon reports that Attenace "significantly improved" the symptoms of ADHD in children and adolescents, when compared to placebo, in three studies of the drug.
Secondly, Attenace (modafinil) has side effects ranging from mildly disturbing to potentially life-threatening. Given the relatively small test sampling to date, Attenace side effects are not fully known at this point. It can be assumed that Attenace will have similar side effects to Provigil since they are made from the same drug.
Below are a listing of common Provigil (modafinil) side effects.
_ Headache.
_ Blurred vision.
_ Dry mouth.
_ Nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain.
_ Constipation or diarrhea.
_ Sleep disturbances/insomnia.
_ Loss of appetite/weight loss.
_ Stuffy nose.
_ Back pain.
_ Confusion.
_ Anxiety and agitation.
_ Nervousness, aggression, hostility.
_ Unstable moods.
_ Depression.
_ Decreased sex drive.
_ "Pins and Needles" feeling.
_ Rash or itching.
_ Dizziness.
_ Widening of blood vessels.
_ Weakness or loss of strength.
_ High/increased blood pressure.
_ Alteration in results of liver function tests.
_ Chest pain.
_ Increased heart rate.
_ Drug dependence.
_ Allergic reaction.
Attenace may be habit forming and has the potential for abuse and dependence . You should discuss the abuse and dependence potential of Attenace with your doctor. This drug should not be taken by anyone who has been or currently is dependent on alcohol or drugs.
Symptoms of an Attenace overdose might include excitation, agitation, insomnia, sleep disturbances, anxiety, irritability, aggressiveness, confusion, nervousness, tremor, palpitations, nausea, and diarrhea.
Contact your doctor immediately or seek emergency medical attention if you experience any of the following uncommon but serious side effects:
_ An allergic reaction (difficulty breathing; closing of the throat; swelling of the lips, tongue, or face; or hives).
_ Irregular heartbeats.
_ Low or high blood pressure.
_ Shortness of breath.
Before taking Attenace, tell your doctor if you have;
_ Left ventricular hypertrophy.
_ Chest pain.
_ Irregular heartbeats.
_ History of heart attack.
_ High blood pressure.
_ Unstable angina.
_ History of mental illness.
_ Kidney disease
_ Liver disease.
Attenace, along with all other ADHD medications currently on the market, is not recommended for children under the age of six since its safety and effectiveness has not been determined. Despite ADHD drug manufacturer's own labels warning against prescribing these powerful drugs to young children, doctors increasingly prescribe ADD medications to children under the manufacturer recommended age.
A Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) article in 2000 noted a "disturbing" increase in the amount of stimulants and anti-depressants prescribed for children under the age of five. Parents should carefully consider the health effects of placing small children on powerful ADHD medications, even if the child's health care provider prescribes a medication for ADHD or ADD.
People using ADHD medications know that these little pills are never the "cure-all" answer. Attention Deficit requires a multifaceted approach which requires many different tactics and combination of tactics. What works is highly individual, depending on individual needs.
Many people with Attention Deficit Disorder and parents of children with Attention Deficit Disorder find great Attention Deficit Disorder and ADHD success from diet supplementation - especially with amino acids and essential fatty acids - a shift in parenting tactics, modifying the home and school environment, biofeedback, neuro-linguistic programming, stress relief measures and exercise. The greatest successes are found by being bold and trying a combination of many measures.
About the Author
Jeannine Virtue is a freelance journalist who specializes in health topics. Visit the Attention Deficit Disorder Help Center at http://www.add-adhd-help-center.com for information about treating Attention Deficit Disorder without the use of Ritalin or other ADHD medications
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A Quick Note
From The Publisher...
If you like the article above, you may be
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Pharmaceutical companies vying for Ritalin’s hefty market share are coming up with new formulas and aggressive campaign ads to compete in this $1 billion per year ADHD drug industry. Pharmaceutical companies introduced five new drugs to treat ADHD in the past five years, with another ADHD drug expected on the market in early 2003 and more are being developed. The relative newcomers Adderall and the drug Concerta are now joined by Metadate CD, Ritalin LA and Focalin. Another formula, Atomoxetine, should hit the market in just a few months. The new ADHD drugs give people choosing drug therapy wider options. Yet, parents, doctors, the FDA and the DEA alike worry that the unprecedented marketing tactics will further drive up demand for ADHD medications, as well as increase drug abuse for these high powered drugs. Ritalin enjoyed the ADHD corner market for decades. Adderall, with its longer acting formula, jumped in for its share in 1996 and quickly began chiseling at Ritalin’s... |
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ADHD, Attention Deficit Disorder News |
ADHD medicine shortage frustrating patients, parents Trish Luberda makes her living as an education consultant and advocate for people with special needs. But those credentials have been of little use in a crisis closer to home, as she has tried desperately to get her hands on the medication that two of her daughters, ages 11 and 17, need to manage their attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). ADHD: Is Stigma Back in Style? With the latest ADHD controversy, it seems as if we've regressed to an era when all mental health problems were blamed on Mom Anesthesia in Early Childhood May Be Linked to ADHD THURSDAY, Feb. 2 (HealthDay News) -- Children who have more than one surgery with general anesthesia by their second birthday might be at higher risk for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), a new study suggests. General anesthesia in infancy linked to higher risk of ADHD Infants who undergo surgical procedures requiring general anesthesia in their first two years of life may be at increased risk of developing attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) as they grow older. |
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