Safety of ADHD Drug to Be Studied By FDA Panel

By Elizabeth Rhein

Published on February 08, 2006

In 2005, a study showed that children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder were at a higher risk of stroke, heart attack, and death when treated with Adderall. Shortly afterwards, Canada decided to withdraw the extended release version of the drug from the market; in the United States, the FDA dictated that a stronger warning be put on Adderall's label.

Now, the FDA has put together an advisory committee to further investigate whether it is safe for children with attention deficit disorder to continue taking Adderall and similar drugs.

The chairman of the FDA's Drug Safety and Risk Management Advisory Committee has also said that the panel will need to find a safe way to study the risks while the drug is still being prescribed.

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