Adderall, a commonly prescribed medication for children diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD), and related disorders, is the subject of a great deal of controversy in the medical profession and in the media.
Adderall is drug company Shire Pharmaceuticals brand name for the generic drug Amphetamine-Dextroamphetamine, which has been marketed as a diet drug since the 1960s, under a different name.
A Schedule II pharmaceutical amphetamine, the FDA classifies Adderall in the same category as drugs such as opium, cocaine, morphine, methadone, and methampetamines, in terms of its dangerous and highly addictive qualities.
While the details of how Adderall works to control symptoms of attention deficit in children aren’t fully understood, it is believed that the drug works by blocking dopamine and neorepinephrine reuptake in the brain.
Dangers of Adderall
The dangers of Adderall are almost too numerous to list comprehensively, and according to a study conducted for the US National Institute of Health, long-term studies of the lifelong and permanent effects of the drug are currently lacking.
Some of the currently known serious side effects of Adderall use include:
- Heart attacks
- Strokes
- Psychotic episodes
- Depression
- Anorexia
Adderall Deaths
In 2005, the Canadian government briefly pulled Adderall from the market as a result of alarming reports of sudden deaths associated with prescribed use of the drug.
Adderall-XL, Shire’s extended release drug, was reported to be the cause of twenty sudden deaths as a result of strokes and heart attacks in Adderall users.
Of the twenty reported deaths, fourteen were children.
All of the victims had been taking the drug as prescribed.
In the US, the FDA’s website warns:
Cases of sudden death and serious adverse events including hypertension, myocardial infarction, and stroke have been reported to the agency in association with therapeutic doses of drugs used to treat Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in both pediatric and adult populations.
Adderall, Addiction, and Substance Abuse
In addition to these often fatal consequences, there are questions about long-term side effects as well. Many researchers believe that Adderall use in children can permanently damage brain function and predispose children to an increased risk for substance abuse and drug addiction.
Adderall itself is a highly addictive drug, and one that acts similarly to other drugs, which many researchers believe creates a ‘cross-addiction,’ in which a child addicted to Adderall can easily transfer that addictive behavior to street drugs such as amphetamines, methamphetamines, and cocaine.
In fact, Adderall is a highly sought after street drug itself, popular among children, college students, and others.
What You Can Do
If you or someone you love has suffered serious side effects, including death, from use of Adderall, it is important that you seek legal help now to preserve your legal rights, and get the money your family needs and deserves for the damages you’ve suffered.
Shire Pharmaceuticals earns many hundreds of millions of dollars per year selling this Schedule II amphetamine to be used for adults and children. Families who have been hurt by this business decision deserve compensation. If you believe that you or someone in your family has been hurt by Adderall, contact an experienced pharmaceutical injury attorney in your area today.
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