[senco-forum] ADHD

In a message dated 22/02/2007 20:51:48 GMT Standard Time,  Janrolnick at aol.com 
writes:

One of  our children has just been diagnosed with ADHD (age 10) and the   
psychiatrist is suggesting ritalin. Mum is in a real quandary. Does anyone  
have  
any advice/experiences? What are the alternatives to  medication?

Janice

There is a drug which is releatively new which I have recently been  
researching because of possible side effects. Not one of the stumulant drugs but  
claims to have success with ADHD. My investigation skewed because of year 5  boy's 
recent references to killing himself! Name  and links below. 

Martin
-------------------------

Atomoxetine and  AD(H)D 
Thoughts about  suicide 
A  review of recent studies has shown that a small number of children and 
young  people who take atomoxetine are more likely to  think about killing 
themselves. The research involved about 2,200 children and  young people. About 1 in 
250 of the children taking atomoxetine thought about suicide. One child 
taking  atomoxetine tried to commit suicide. None of the  children who took a dummy 
drug for comparison (a _placebo_ 
(javascript:openGlossary('../glossary/6.html')) ) thought about  suicide.  
In the  UK, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), 
which checks  the safety of drugs, has said parents and other carers of 
children treated with  atomoxetine should keep a careful watch for signs  of 
depression, suicidal thoughts or suicidal behaviour. Some children may need  to switch 
to a different treatment. The MHRA says that children who are doing  well on 
this treatment should keep taking it.  
If  your child is getting unusual symptoms or you are worried abut him or 
her, see  your doctor. 
See full article for a review of the  possible side effects 
Ref:  _http://www.besttreatments.co.uk/btuk/conditions/28530.html_ 
(http://www.besttreatments.co.uk/btuk/conditions/28530.html)  
Psychiatric  reactions
In  September 2005, Strattera was determined to increase risk of suicidal 
thoughts  among children and adolescents; one attempted suicide and five cases of 
suicidal  thoughts were reported out of 1,357 young patients taking 
Strattera, while none  were reported out of a control group of 851 taking placebos. 
_[1]_ (http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,170777,00.html) , _[2]_ 
(http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2005/09/29/financial/f092936D43.DTL&hw=Stratter
a&sn=001&sc=1000) .  The FDA has required that _black box warnings_ 
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_box_warning)  be  placed on all antidepressant 
medications warning they may result in increased  risk of suicidal tendencies in 
children and adolescents; therefore, Strattera  bears such a warning. 
In  less than three years on the market 10,988 adverse "psychiatric 
reactions" have  been reported to Eli Lilly for the ADHD drug Strattera, according to 
the British  Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), 
January  2006. 
Ref:  
_http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atomoxetine#Discontinuation_adverse_effects_ (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atomoxetine#Discontinuation_adverse_effects) 