Drug Agency Regulatory Warnings: There have been 31 drug regulatory agency warnings issued from eight countries

on ADHD drugs causing: Aggression Agitation Anxiety Convulsions Depression Disturbed sleep Drug addiction/abuse Hallucinations Heart attack Heart problems Hostility Mania/psychosis Seizures Stroke Sudden death Suicidal ideation/behavior Violence Weight changes Drug Studies: There have been 20 studies published from four countries on ADHD drugs causing: Abnormal heart rate/rhythm Birth defects Blood pressure changes Delinquency risk Depression Drug abuse/addiction Emotional outbursts Hallucinations Heart problems Homicidal ideation Insomnia Irritability Mania/psychosis Low academic performance Stunted growth Sudden death Suicide risk Violence Weight changes Documented Side Effects of ADHD Drugs: Aggression/hostility Agitation Blood pressure changes Changes in vision or blurred vision Depression Dizziness or faintness Fever

Hallucinations Heart attack Hives Hypersensitivity Impotence Increased irritability Insomnia Involuntary tics/twitching Irregular heartbeat Liver problems Loss of appetite Mania Mental/mood changes Muscle/joint tightness Nausea Nervousness Painful menstruation Psychosis Restlessness Seizures Sexual dysfunction Slow/difficult speech Stomach pain Stroke Stunted growth Sudden death Suicidal thoughts Swelling of face or throat Tourettes Syndrome Toxic psychosis Unusual bleeding/bruising Unusual sadness/crying Violent behavior Vomiting Weight loss Zombie demeanor

Note: Side effects of psychiatric drugs can persist for months, if not years, after stopping them. (1) ADHD Drug Side Effects Reported to the FDA: There have been 14,158 Adverse Drug Reactions in connection with ADHD drugs/stimulants that have been reported to the FDAs Adverse Event Reporting System (MedWatch), between 2004 and 2011. The FDA estimates that less than 1% of all serious events are ever reported to it, so the actual number of side effects occurring are most certainly higher.

These include: 871 cases of suicidal ideation/behavior (completed suicides and suicide attempts) 636 cases of aggression 593 cases of hallucinations 499 cases of anxiety 495 cases of abnormal behavior 464 cases of depression 220 cases of death/sudden death 147 cases of mania 113 cases of withdrawal symptoms 52 cases of homicidal ideation 44 cases of diabetes 30 cases of hostility 25 cases of coma 23 cases of physical Assault 21 cases of birth defects 13 cases of violence-related symptoms 12 cases of psychosis 11 cases of homicide 9 cases of sexual dysfunction (2) ADHD Drug Warnings: There have been 31 warnings from eight countries (United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, France and Singapore) warning that ADHD drugs/stimulants cause harmful side effects. These include the following (note that some warnings cite more than one side effect, so the list below may not be equal to the total number of warnings):

12 warnings on stimulants causing heart problems 8 warnings on stimulants causing mania/psychosis 8 warnings on stimulants causing death 3 warnings on stimulants causing hallucinations 2 warnings on stimulants causing depression 2 warnings on stimulants causing violence, hostility or aggression 2 warnings on stimulants causing seizures 1 warning on stimulants causing suicide risk/attempts 1 warning on stimulants causing anxiety

ADHD Drug Studies: There are 20 studies from four countries (United States, Australia, Denmark and Italy) showing that ADHD drugs/stimulants cause harmful side effects. These include the following (note that some studies cite more than one side effect, so the list below may not be equal to the total number of studies):

5 studies on stimulants causing medication abuse 3 studies on stimulants causing heart problems 2 studies on stimulants causing death 1 study on stimulants causing suicide risk/attempts 1 study on stimulants causing birth defects 1 study on stimulants causing violence 1 study on stimulants causing homicidal ideation 1 study on stimulants causing depression 1 study on stimulants causing mania, psychosis and hallucinations

(1)

Psychiatric Drug Side Effects Can Persist After Stopping Them

Below are studies showing that, even after stopping certain psychiatric drugs, the side effects may last several months to years afterwards. Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics Journal published a study in October 2012 about persistent withdrawal effects six months after cessation of taking SSRI antidepressants. Researchers reviewed self-reporting adverse events between February 2010 and September 2010 and found post-withdrawal symptoms may last several months to years. Reported symptoms included disturbed mood, emotional liability, irritability, and poor stress tolerance. We note in table 1, persistent postwithdrawal disorders, which occur after 6 weeks of drug withdrawal, rarely disappear spontaneously, and are sufficiently severe and disabling to have patients returned to previous drug treatment. When their drug treatment is not restarted,postwithdrawal disorders may last several months to years. Significant persistent postwithdrawal emergent symptoms noted consist of anxiety disorders, including generalized anxiety and panic attacks, tardive [developing slowly] insomnia, and depressive disorders including major depression and bipolar illness. Anxiety, disturbed mood, depression, mood swings, emotional liability, persistent insomnia, irritability, poor stress tolerance, impaired concentration and impaired memory are the more frequent postwithdrawal symptoms reported online.

Dr. John Zajecka reported in the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry that the agitation and irritability experienced by patients withdrawing from one SSRI antidepressant could cause aggressiveness and suicidal impulsivity. The study stated that, Symptoms of [antidepressant] discontinuation have been reported to last as long as 1 month.

(2)

The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration classified the stimulant methylphenidate, also known as Ritalin, in the same category as cocaine, morphine and opium.

These graphs show psychiatric drug side effects that have been reported to the FDA. Scroll down to view further details such as STUDIES and WARNINGS for the returned drug(s).

(3)