ADHD drugs can Permanently Increase Blood Pressure
CCHR Calls for Australian
Draft ADHD Guidelines to be Scrapped: Landmark Study Shows
ADHD drugs can Permanently Increase Blood Pressure
The release of the landmark Raine Study
in Western Australia that shows ADHD drugs worsen academic performance
and dangerously increase diastolic blood pressure (the pressure between
heart beats) has prompted calls for the Draft ADHD Guidelines to be
scrapped. This side effect can predispose children to the risk of heart
attacks and stroke.
The Citizens Commission on Human Rights
(CCHR) said the ADHD Guidelines, if implemented, will further put Australian
children at risk. For years the risks of ADHD drugs, including
death and suicidal behavior have been known. In 2006, Australian warnings
were strengthened highlighting the risk of cardiac problems with all
ADHD drugs in children with existing heart conditions. The new
study shows the drugs may cause the condition in children without pre-existing
heart conditions. Ritalin also carries a warning for suicide and
suicidal ideation.
This Raine Study, conducted by
the Telethon Institute, is a world first long-term study which debunks
psychiatrists' claims that stimulants help children focus and, thereby
helps increase academic performance. Researchers found: "Stimulant
medication use increased the odds of below-age-level academic achievement
by a factor of 10 times" which "strongly suggests that medication
may not result in any long term academic gains (as rated by a classroom
teacher)."
The Royal Australasian College of Physicians
Draft ADHD Guidelines were halted under a cloud of controversy in late
2009 when CCHR revealed that US psychiatrist, Joseph Biederman-upon
whose studies the Committee, in part, relied-is currently under U.S.
Congressional investigation for his undisclosed financial ties to the
pharmaceutical industry. Dr. Biederman, studies are cited more
than 70 times in the ADHD guidelines. The US Senate Finance Committee
is investigating his receiving up to US$1.6 million from drug companies
to research and promote specific drugs.
That conflict of interest also dogged
the RACP Committee developing the ADHD Guidelines and last year it was
forced under public pressure to reveal its members' financial ties
to drug companies. In many cases, those drug companies produce the drugs
that currently appear as the first line of treatment for "moderate
to severe ADHD" in the Guidelines. At least 10 of the 19 members
have/have had financial ties, with the most recent draft listing their
conflicts of interest with the pharmaceutical industry. See
below for details.
The Committee reported that it analysed
265 studies in the Draft Systematic Review document, which was then
used to write the Guidelines. A total of 89 or 31% of these studies
were industry funded. The pharmaceutical industry has already benefited
from an annual 12% increase in prescription rates of psychostimulants
since 2003/04, with sales of these drugs now reaching $21 million on
the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme.
The Therapeutic Goods Administration
has already reported 863 suspected adverse reactions to ADHD drugs.
These include the sudden death of a 7 year old, a 5 year old that suffered
a stroke after taking Ritalin along with 23 reports of suicidal behaviour
in children.
"The Raine study has international
significance," Ms. Shelley Wilkins, Executive Director of the Australian
National Office of CCHR, said. "It, along with the many other
studies, reinforces the fact that ADHD drugs harm children. And
parents who have been led to believe that stimulants can help their
children's school grades have been deceived. Add to this the clear
conflict of interests within the Committee members, and there is no
other action the government can take but to scrap the Guidelines.
We should no longer tolerate our children being exposed to potentially
life-threatening mind-altering drugs," says Ms Wilkins.
Dualities and Conflicts
of Interest of ADHD Guidelines Committee Members
- Dr. Daryl Effron was
Chair of the Committee until his conflicts were exposed in 2007. He
has been on the advisory boards of Novartis that makes Ritalin and Eli
Lilly that manufactures Straterra-both drugs prescribed to treat ADHD.
While standing down as Chair, he remained a Committee member.
- Dr. Patrick Concannon,
has been sponsored by Eli Lilly to attend a conference 1
and served on advisory committees for Novartis and Janssen-Cilag that
makes the ADHD drug Concerta. 2 See page 64.
- Professor David Hay
is a Professor of Psychology at Curtain University of Technology in
WA and Janssen-Cilag the makers of the ADHD drug Concerta, funded his
presentation at an educational seminar.3
- Ms. Michelle Pearce
from WA who is on the Education Group of the Committee, helped
write a booklet, "Teenagers with ADHD" for Novartis. 4
- Professor Loretta Giorcelli
from NSW, who is the only other member of the Education Group of the
Committee appealed against the release of the disclosure documents when
CCHR placed a Freedom of Information Request to obtain the details of
vested interests of the Committee. When they were released she
disclosed at the first meeting that she had received expenses plus accommodation
to attend a meeting as an educational advisor paid for by Janssen Cilag
who make the ADHD drug Concerta. 5
- Psychiatrist, Dr Julian
Troller from NSW has received personal payments for consultancy
and review work for Novartis, Eli Lilly and Pfizer. 6
- Psychiatrist
Dr Mark Kneebone also from NSW
declared that he had attended psychiatric meetings that had been sponsored
by Wyeth.7
- Professor Michael Sawyer
from SA was sponsored by Eli Lilly to attend an annual conference of
the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. 8
- Geraldine Moore, Consumer
Advocate from Victoria wrote a book on ADHD and the catering
at the launch of this book was funded by Eli Lilly who make the ADHD
drug Strattera.9
- Joy Toll the only other
Consumer Advocate on the Committee and founder and current secretary
of ADDults with ADHD NSW, approached Eli Lilly to sponsor the cost
of printing her organisations information pamphlet and since 2003 she
has attended consultation meetings with Eli Lilly who provide her with
taxi vouchers and food. 10
- Professor Philip Hazel,
Clinical Director of the Centre for Mental Health Studies in the Hunter
NSW attended the first meeting for the drafting of the ADHD Guidelines
and according to his disclosure documents which CCHR obtained under
the Freedom of Information Act he has been on advisory boards of Eli
Lilly who make the ADHD drug Strattera, Novartis who make Ritalin, Shire,
Jansen and Pfizer. 11
- Michelle Toner from Learning
and Attentional Deficit Society
in WA also attended the first meeting and disclosed that her
organisation had received limited and unrestricted grants from Eli Lilly,
Janssen-Cilag and Novartis. 12
- Jude Foster the director
of the Wraparound Kids Program attended the first meeting and she
also appealed against release of her documents. When they were released
her document dated 1/03/07 stated she was a member of the Advisory Board
for Novartis and Janssen Cilag- both drug companies who make ADHD drugs.
13
For further information
please contact CCHR, which was co-founded by the Church of Scientology
& Professor of Psychiatry, Dr Thomas Szasz in 1969 to investigate
and expose psychiatric violations against human rights.
1 "Draft ADHD Guidelines on Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, List of Appendices," The Royal Australasian College of Physicians, June 2009, p.4.
2 Clinical Excellence Commission Report: "Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder in Children and adolescents in New South Wales- 2007. Final Report of the Special Review, December 2007," page 64.
3 Draft ADHD Guidelines on Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, List of Appendices, The Royal Australasian College of Physicians," June 2009, p.8.
4 "Teenagers with ADHD" http://www.adhdsupport.com.au/pdf/adolescent.pdf accessed 18th July 2008, See page 2 and "Draft ADHD Guidelines on Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, List of Appendices, The Royal Australasian College of Physicians," June 2009, p.9.
5 Freedom of Information Request done by Citizens Committee on Human Rights to the Australian Department of Health and Ageing. Documents released to CCHR on 12 December 2008.
6 Draft ADHD Guidelines on Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, List of Appendices," The Royal Australasian College of Physicians," June 2009, p.6.
7 Draft ADHD Guidelines on Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, List of Appendices, The Royal Australasian College of Physicians," June 2009, p.6.
8 Draft ADHD Guidelines on Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, List of Appendices, The Royal Australasian College of Physicians," June 2009, p.6 & 7.
9 Freedom of Information Request done by Citizens Committee on Human Rights to the Australian Department of Health and Ageing. Documents released to CCHR on 15 September 2008.
10 Draft ADHD Guidelines on Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, List of Appendices, The Royal Australasian College of Physicians," June 2009, p.9 & 10.
11 Freedom of Information Request done by Citizens Committee on Human Rights to the Australian Department of Health and Ageing. Documents released to CCHR on 15 September 2008.
12 Freedom of Information Request done by Citizens Committee on Human Rights to the Australian Department of Health and Ageing. Documents released to CCHR on 15 September 2008.
13 Freedom of Information Request done by Citizens Committee on Human Rights to the Australian Department of Health and Ageing. Documents released to CCHR on 8 January 2009
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Child Drugging