XTEND-15sec-NEWSt
23rd August 2006
Please click on the link of interest...
New warnings over ADHD drugs…n1
Several drugs used to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder must include new warning information about the risk of heart problems and psychotic behavior, United States health officials have said.
The drugs, which include GlaxoSmithKline Plc's Dexedrine and Novartis AG's Ritalin, must include a warning about the possible risk of sudden death and serious heart problems, Food and Drug Administration spokeswoman Susan Bro said.
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Warren Matthews' comments: I really get upset with reports like this which are far too frequent. The dangers of these drugs have been known for years, but the ‘authorities’ still continue to ‘push’ them on our children in spite of it now being well known that something as simple Omega 3 fish oils will do as good a job in most cases without any of the negative side effects.
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PARACETAMOL likely to cause liver damage…n2
According to an article in the Journal of the American Medical Association, 2006; 296:87-93, the popular over the counter painkiller paracetamol can cause liver malfunction even if taken for just a few days.
This was discovered when 145 volunteers took a 4 gram dose every day for 14 days. A third of these volunteers had abnormal liver enzyme activity after just a few days. These abnormal readings persisted for up to 11 days after the treatment was discontinued.
Researchers cannot figure out why this have never been noted before in such a popular drug? The figure that maybe it was because the group tested were Hispanic Americans and perhaps they are more prone to liver problems than other groups?
Warren Matthews' comments: Hmm…I wonder why this hasn’t been published before? I wonder if the ‘authorities’ will issue a ‘warning’ on the label? Somehow I doubt it! Somewhat of a double standard isn’t it? Remember last issue I talked about Black cohosh, the traditional herbal remedy for which the authorities are now insisting labels carry a warning against possible liver damage in ‘rare’ cases. This is in spite of the fact that there is no direct link to Black cohosh ever contributing to liver damage, and that the users of this herb in whom some liver damage was detected were all users of prescription drugs!!!
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Omega-3 Fatty Acid status as a predictor of suicide risk...n3
In a study involving 33 subjects with depression who were not on medication, low levels of the polyunsaturated fatty acid, docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), and a high ratio of Omega-6/Omega-3 fatty acids were found to be predictors of attempted suicide. Over a two year period, subjects were monitored for suicide attempts and their plasma polyunsaturated fatty acid levels in phospholipids were measured.
During the 2 year follow up period, 7 subjects attempted suicide. Analysis of the data revealed that a lower DHA percentage of total plasma polyunsaturated fatty acids and a higher Omega-6/Omega-3 ratio were predictive of suicide attempt. The results of this small study suggest that measuring the essential fatty acid status of depressed patients may be one way of predicting suicidal behavior. Further research is needed to confirm these findings.
Reference: Omega-3 polyunsaturated essential fatty acid status as a predictor of future suicide risk, Sublette ME, Hibbeln JR, et al, Am J Psychiatry, 2006; 163(6): 1100-2. (Address: Department of Neuroscience, NY State Psychiatric Institute, Columbia University, Unit 42, 1051 Riverside Dr., New York, NY 10032, USA).
Warren Matthews' comments: Even if you are not suffering from depression you should still ensure that you have a reasonable intake of DHA daily from fish oil. At least 500mgs! If you do suffer from depression then it is crucial that you take it every day.
Also, be careful not to negate the benefits by having a lot of Omega 6 which is present in all vegetable oils…so go easy on them…
Don’t forget that we have one of the purest DHA fish oils in the world, derived from pure New Zealand fish. It is pharmaceutical grade. For more info click here.
http://www.xtend-life.com/product_detail.php?product_id=12&lang_id=1&menu_id=15
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New warnings over ADHD drugsm1
22/08/2006
Susan Heavey – Reuters
Several drugs used to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder must include new warning information about the risk of heart problems and psychotic behavior, United States health officials have said.
The drugs, which include GlaxoSmithKline Plc's Dexedrine and Novartis AG's Ritalin, must include a warning about the possible risk of sudden death and serious heart problems, Food and Drug Administration spokeswoman Susan Bro said.
The drugs, stimulants that can raise blood pressure, must also include warnings about the risk of behavioral problems such as aggression and mania, she said.
Mrs Bro could not confirm whether other ADHD drugs -- Johnson & Johnson's Concerta and Eli Lilly and Co.'s Strattera -- also were ordered to carry the warnings.
Strattera already includes a caution about suicidal thoughts, while Shire Plc's Adderall already carries a warning that misuse can cause heart problems.
The FDA's decision comes months after two separate panels of outside experts offered conflicting opinions on whether the risks warranted the strongest warnings possible -- a so-called black box.
Mrs Bro could not confirm whether the heart warning was boxed. But a letter from Glaxo made public earlier advising doctors about the new warnings said the heart caution was a boxed warning.
Other non-boxed warnings about psychotic behavior, stunted growth, seizures and vision problems also were included, Glaxo's letter said.
Holly Russell, spokeswoman for the British drugmaker, said Glaxo agreed with the FDA's request to add the warning language and complied with the agency's recommended wording.
In March, FDA advisers said new information about the risks should be added to the labels for attention deficit drugs. The outside experts stopped short of supporting a boxed warning, saying they did not want to scare off patients or their parents.
A different FDA panel in February recommended black box heart-related warnings but said it was unclear if the drugs caused heart-related complications.
Some doctors have expressed concern that new warnings could dampen use of the medicines, which the FDA has estimated see about 1 million prescriptions for adults and 2 million for children each month.
Critics say many of the prescriptions are unnecessary and that the drugs are over used.
FDA's Bro said the agency began contacting Glaxo and Novartis about the new warning requirements in May.
That same month, Canadian health authorities publicly warned people with high blood pressure, heart disease and other medical problems to avoid taking medications for ADHD.
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