Strattera Lawsuit & News Blog

Recent Eli Lily News

Tue, 16 Jan 2007 10:14:12 -0400

New data suggest that Strattera (atomoxetine HCl) improved ADHD symptoms in children and adolescents who had both ADHD and a reading disorder, like dyslexia. Results were announced at a meeting of child and adolescent psychiatrists.
The primary objective of the study was to measure Strattera's efficacy in treating the symptoms of ADHD in children and adolescents with ADHD and a comorbid reading disorder (ADHD+RD).

Smoking Linked to ADHD

Fri, 12 Jan 2007 10:15:31 -0400

Evidence just keeps piling up to show smoking is bad for more people than just the smoker. A study published in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives confirmed that exposure to tobacco smoke before birth for the mothers who smoked while pregnant raised the rate of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children. The study also found a significant relationship between ADHD and childhood lead exposure.

Diagnosing and Treating Adults with ADHD

Wed, 10 Jan 2007 10:14:36 -0400

ADHD affects approximately 4 to 5 percent of the adult population and is characterized by persistent problems with inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity. These core symptoms lead to a wide range of impairments in adulthood, including lower educational attainment, lower vocational achievement, difficulties in interpersonal relationships, and high risk for a wide range of additional psychiatric comorbidity.

The low rates of diagnosis and treatment of adult ADHD in the community are likely attributable to a range of factors. One of these pertains to the challenges of making an accurate and valid diagnosis in the context of our current criteria. These criteria were developed and empirically substantiated using mostly male children and adolescents. As such, the developmental appropriateness of directly applying the criteria to adults has been questioned. (Medscape)

Assessing Strattera: Is It Safe?

Fri, 15 Dec 2006 10:48:47 -0400

Strattera is used to treat children for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder or ADHD. Serious psychiatric side effects have come under scrutiny and are being assessed by the Australian federal government. .

Strattera was the probable cause of one child's explosive mood swings and erratic behavior, including an attempt to open the door of a moving car. Strattera is also implicated in aggressive outbursts by a 12-year-old, in which she ripped out her fingernails.

Possible Strattera side effects include suicidal thoughts, agitation, and serious physical problems such as growth retardation, weight loss, chest pains, and swollen testicles. (Yahoo)

Researchers at UIC are studying the role that genetics play in the response to two different ADHD medications on Chidlren

Thu, 14 Dec 2006 10:50:31 -0400

Biological Responses to ADHD Medications

Researchers at UIC are studying the role that genetics play in the response to two different ADHD medications. Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder, more commonly known as ADHD, has been studied extensively and new medications have been developed to help combat this prevalent mental illness; however, not many studies have been conducted regarding genetics and individual response to these medications.

The experimental design study includes the evaluation of 160 children and adolescents between the ages of 7 and 17. The subjects will receive IQ, achievement, blood, and physical exams, along with an initial psychiatric evaluation and an electrocardiogram test to measure each subject's eligibility to become a participant. Volunteers will be treated with atomoxetine (non-stimulant medication), melthylphenidate (stimulant medication), and a placebo in a blinded-dose sequence to determine the effectiveness of the medications. Researchers will then measure any ADHD symptoms and look for an increase in social and attention skills in the participants while taking the medications.

Two of the most common stimulant based medications used in the treatment of ADHD, Adderall and Concerta, and the most common non-stimulant based medication prescribed, Strattera, work by increasing the strength and effectiveness of chemical signaling.

Adverse Drug Reaction Testing for Strattera

Wed, 6 Dec 2006 10:52:03 -0400

Strattera is one of many medications that are processed through pathways in your liver. These pathways vary in their ability to process drugs based on your unique genetic make-up. Strattera it is eliminated primarily by oxidative metabolism through the liver. A fraction of the population is poor metabolizers. These individuals have reduced activity in this pathway resulting in slower elimination. Adverse events were either twice as frequent or statistically significantly more frequent in poor metabolizers.

Genelex offers Prescription Drug Reaction Testing that can measure your genetic ability to process many drugs including Strattera. Your physician can utilize this information to select medications that are least likely to result in an adverse drug reaction. Currently, adverse drug reactions are one of the leading causes of death in our country and one of the major reasons for hospitalization. (Health And DNA)

Australia: Strattera Subsidy Welcomed

Wed, 22 Nov 2006 10:58:47 -0400

Australia: Strattera Subsidy Welcomed

Who knew that Australia has one of the highest recorded rates of ADHD than anywhere else in the world with about a quarter of a million prescriptions a year? (I wonder why that is so.)

The usually prescribed drugs Ritalin and dexamphetamine have become controversial because of cases of dependency, recreational use, and side-effects.
Strattera works by increasing the flow of dopamine to the brain's neuro-transmitters, which aids decision-making and learning. Specialists say the drug could be available under the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) within two years. (Australia Strattera News)

British Health Regulatory Agency Fails to Reveal Strattera Harmful Side Effects

Wed, 22 Nov 2006 10:56:04 -0400

British Health Regulatory Agency Fails to Reveal Strattera Harmful Side Effects

In its new report about the ADHD drug Strattera, expected to be published by the end of November 2006, the British Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) which is the equivalent to the FDA will issue new warnings about the harmful effects of the drug. These warnings are about the risk for sudden cardiac death in connection with Strattera.

But the report will not take up all the psychiatric reactions known by the agency for almost a year. The reason is the MHRA didn't care to investigate them.

In January the agency wrote in its Risk: Benefit Assessment about, what it called, the large number of psychiatric reactions from Strattera. The assessment had requested Eli Lilly to perform a cumulative review of all psychiatric disorders reported from Strattera.

Yet by August there was still no evaluation while more than 12,000 psychiatric reactions were reported. Eli Lilly had submitted no review. As a consequence, in the beginning of September the MHRA announced there would be no review. When Eli Lilly didn't submit any documents to the MHRA by August 9, the agency dropped the request.

Instead the MHRA started to refer to the analysis done by the FDA, considered by the FDA Pediatric Advisory Committee at its meeting on 22 March 2006. However the FDA review covered parts of all these reactions and was completed already in September 2005 as the MHRA knew all about it a long time ago.

This means that the British MHRA, leading the current "safety review" of Strattera in Europe, didn't care to investigate what the agency itself called a large number of psychiatric reactions. It didn't even report any biased data about these harmful effects from the manufacturer Eli Lilly.

Warnings that Strattera increase the risk of suicide were issued internationally in September 2005 after Eli Lilly announced a "new analysis" of its clinical trials of the drug.

The number of reports of suicide and self-injurious behaviour in connection with Strattera had as of May 2006 reached - 600! The number has doubled since September 2005.

Despite the fact that reported cases of suicide are now over 600, the MHRA has failed to set up an independent investigation of these horrendous harmful effects. (Eli Lillty Strattera Analysis News)

Strattera Suicide

Tue, 7 Nov 2006 10:22:20 -0400

According to the FDA, the label for Strattera has been revised to include the warnings that Strattera may increase thoughts of suicide or suicide attempts in children and teens. The FDA has now warned physicians to be mindful of reports of suicidal thinking in children. Doctors and parents should be aware that children and adolescents who are taking Strattera, a drug used to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, may have suicidal thoughts. (Strattera Legal Help)

New Patch for ADHD

Tue, 7 Nov 2006 10:21:13 -0400

Shire announced that its Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) patch DAYTRANA is effective in patients converted to the patch from doses of their previous oral long-acting methylphenidate. This phase of clinical trial results were reported October 27, 2006 at a major scientific and educational meeting of child and adolescent psychiatrists in San Diego, Calif.

Two additional analyses presented at the meeting also demonstrated positive results with DAYTRANA. One analysis documented that treatment with the ADHD did not worsen ADHD-related sleep onset, sleep anxiety, or daytime sleepiness while another analysis evaluated validated parent satisfaction measures, considering both the efficacy and tolerability of the ADHD patch.

DAYTRANA, the first and only ADHD patch, is available in four dosage strengths - 10 mg, 15 mg, 20 mg and 30 mg - all designed for once-daily use. (Health News)