ADHD Drugs

Because children react to drugs differently than adults it is impossible for doctors to predict what different drugs will do to a child. Many side effects that were not present in adults have been observed in children from using untested drugs. “There are 25 studies from five countries (United States, Australia, Denmark, Canada and Italy) showing that ADHD drugs/stimulants cause harmful side effects.” (ADHD) These are only ADHD drugs. There are drugs to treat a wide spectrum of physical and mental disorders. Many tests have been done to to prove that there are harmful side effects from these drugs but very little has been shown as to what doctors are doing to fix these problems other than treating the immediate side effects. Doctors are aware

This makes them much safer than blindly giving a child an off-label drug. Off-label means the drug has not been tested or approved by the FDA so its outcome cannot be guaranteed. Clinical trials move through phases. Phase one determines safety, phase two determines effectiveness, and phase three compares the new drug to others to determine the best option. (Pediatric) This pathway keeps a steady focus where it is most important first, safety, before moving it into different phases. Giving off-label drugs to kids before this is almost like testing all three phases at once making it impossible to draw conclusions as well as endangering the child or not providing them with effective treatment. Children who participate in clinical trials may also receive a better treatment than what is offered to them initially. An article meant to inform parents about pediatric clinical trials states, “[b]y taking part in a trial, your child may be offered a new treatment that may or may not be better than those that already exist. Your child can also help the medical community understand how the treatment works and how it should be used in children.” (Should) This offered a huge incentive for parents to allow eligible children to participate in trials. The possibility that their child may receive a better treatment than other children is a huge advantage for their children struggling with a physical or mental disorder. Clinical trials also make treatments safer and more effective for every child afterwards who receives the same treatment. “People often think that a clinical trial that tests an experimental drug is riskier than being treated in your doctor's office with an already approved drug, says Nelson. ‘Some research is riskier, but some is safer than being