Hey there -
I'm thinking about putting together a more formal epinion about this but I'm not sure if it's worth it or not . . .

There's a child who lives in my home who takes Concerta for ADHD. This weekend, a pediatrician found evidence of a possible heart condition. We're still looking into it (he's going to see a specialist), but I discovered with just a minimal amount of on-line research that the FDA is investigating the labeling of Concerta and other ADHD drugs with the same active ingredient for understating its link to new psychological disturbances AND cardiovascular problems. He's off it on the weekends now as a result, but I wanted to share this with the community.

Scary.

Further reading can be found at the following links:
http://www.medpagetoday.com/Psychiatry/AttentionDeficitDisorder/tb/1294
http://www.yourlawyer.com/topics/overview/Concerta/
http://www.fdaadvisorycommittee.com/FDC/AdvisoryCommittee/Stories/063005_ConcertaP.htm

Wow that is quite scary.... your experience with this could be helpful to parents who are on the fence about whether or not to use the drug with their child/children. I'm sorry to hear about this child's problems that you know. I hope they can help him.

Shantel

I think your personal experience is important for others to know, so thanks for sharing. Very scary indeed.

Amy

Wow - that's really scary. That child will be in my thoughts and prayers. Thanks for sharing about this - it just might help someone out.

Stacey

I take methylphenidate which is the main ingredient in Concerta. I tend to lose circulation in my hands and feet but have always had this problem, just not as severe. It is only temporary but now makes me wonder as I read more about it. I can tell you this though, I just switched to a generic brand of adderall. What a nightmare! I couldn't think clearly. All I could do way sit in my home on the couch. I was so angry and irritable one minute and happy then next. Very rapid cycling. I have supposedly been diagnosed with ADD, bi polar disorder, Post traumatic stress syndrome, a severe mood disorder and depression! I think all the different meds I'm taking may be counteracting each other. Anyone else have this issue?
I have heard of a new product called "Flavay". Maybe you can look into this for your son. Don't know yet if it works though. Waiting to hear others opinions on it.
Good Luck!

I have had hardcore ADHD/bipolar since I was a young kid. Currently I am an Application Programmer and have had to struggle to keep on task. As I write this I should be working on my project but being distracted I found myself here. Funny. There are 2 ideas here. First the drug companies and doctors are out to make billions by labeling symptoms and stuffing drugs into the masses. Its about profits not about people. If they cared they would not be lobbying to make sure the FDA doesn't black label the ADHD drugs which are so dangerous. Are the risks of heart attacks etc worth the numbing of the minds of our children or ourselves? Personally I am looking into natural remedies like essential oils and other herb type products. But still anything I can take will likely have its own side affects. Whenever you introduce something into the body the alters mind state, you will have side effects. You just have to weight the pros and cons, then decide what is best. Is it better to go stir crazy because you can't sit down for long periods or take something to mask over the natural tendency. There is another choice of course. To accept the natural state of being or atleast realize the strengths and limits of the condition, bi polar, adhd which are simply labels for treatement ie drugs which make people rich. I use my adhd to drive me to success in my career and harness the energy. The same can be done with kids but consider that public education is not suited to catering to all types of people. Public education is a cattle trough to push the masses through and often leaves the special cases or small groups to fend for themselves or drug them so they fit the standard mold. Well look at the CEO of Jet Blue. He refuses to take drugs for his condition citing that it would ruin his creative edge. I am the same way about this. I choose to fight the distractions and channel my energy best I can. I have healthy forms of release of energy like rollerblading and working out. I also have a job which always keeps me guessing so I am not doing the same tasks all the time. Anyway the bottom line is drugs are not the cure but are more often simply masks. Best approach is to not take the drugs and create an environment for the child or adult which best suits the mental and physical needs. Of course the doctors and drug pushers will not suggest this. Anyway good luck to all and hope nobody dies from drugs.

It's amazing how many things that "help" us harm our health as a result. I received this email about ADD and ADHD and the natural alternatives that have helped many. I want to share it with all of you.
"My daughter, who is 18 now, graduating high school, was diagnosed with ADD (without hyperactivity) as a sophomore in high school. Her grades were average (basically C's), yet she tested very high. She had a very hard time doing homework, frustrated by school, etc. Never a behavior problem.
After she was diagnosed, they started her on Ritalin. She had no appetite, couldn't sleep well, but her concentration and grades improved. Dramatically in fact. Before the Ritalin she was a happy kid, basically up personality. Then she started to get depressed on the Ritalin, first time in her life. So, they treated this side-effect with antidepressants. Then she had other side effects, so they tried some other drugs. They all had side effects and she didn't like the way she felt when she was on them.
She finally told us that she didn't care about her grades, it was more important to her to feel good. She refused the medication. She remained a happy, up, outgoing kid, but her grades went back down.
A few months later we enrolled in Melaleuca. A few months after that someone told us that the supplements may help her ADD. So, we gave them a try. Started her on the Vitality Pak, two of each per day; Cell-Wise, two per day; and ProvexPlus, four per day.
Within a few weeks we noticed that she was doing her homework without our bugging her, she wasn't asking for so much help and seemed to understand the work better. Wasn't so frustrated. It was as if a light went on inside her brain. Her grades went up significantly, A's and B's. No side effects whatsoever. When we started her on the supplements we explained that it wasn't "medicine", but essentially "vitamins" she would be taking, so we got no resistance from her in taking them. She now knows the difference and how much they help her, she makes sure she takes them. In the morning I hear her calling "Mom, get my supplements out, I am late".
We would be customers of Melaleuca if only for the supplements for her, but we have had other positive health results with other members of the family. In fact, when we are doing a presentation and someone questions the 29 base points, we laugh. We order over 300 base points every month for our family. We use almost everything in the catalog. We love the company, we love the business and most of all, we love the products." Stu Sander
"My son Jacob age 9 yrs was suffering from ADD/ADHD and I was very keen to try the children vitamins range of products. I started him on the Children Chewable and the ProVex.
After just 4 weeks I could notice a change in his behaviour, and the teachers at school also could notice a big change in him.
The only thing that I change in his daily routine in that time was to give him the children chewable vitamins and the ProVex tablets.
I had found something that worked and was helping him every day with his schoolwork and his behaviour at home."

There are more stories, but they didn't all fit. Sorry!

My son died on December 17, 2005. His name was Garrett and he was 16 years old. His autopsy was found 'undetermined' as the cause. The only abnormality was that his heart was enlarged. He took Ritalin since he was 5, and changed to Concerta at 12 or 13. I have been very concerned about the FDA not taking the advisory boards suggestion to put the black box warnings on these drugs. I have yet to figure out on my own if the drugs could have caused his heart to be enlarged and am devasted that I lost him not knowing why. I know he needed the drugs to get through school and home peacefully, but had I known there was a possible risk of heart problems, I would have insisted on closer monitoring.

How did you discover the possible heart problem?

I am so so so sorry to hear that about your son .

I'm so glad I came across this website. My chld in junior high was diagnosed last year with ADHD. We reluctantly tried medication (Concerta) and later decided to end the medication. A teacher has just recently suggested that my child go back on medication to finish the school year. The thought of it just scares me so much. Does anyone have any successful alternatives to the ADHD meds?

hi this message is for the woman who son died his name was garett by chance did you live on bangor base in washington, becuase i had a friend who's name was garret and he took add medication?

When my son was in elementary kinder, his teacher and principle were trying to get me to take him to their doctor to have him put on drugs because he was hyper. My responce to them was I will never put my son on drugs. To me it was like giving him cocaine or heroine (mind altering drugs). The principle just smiled and said to me " never say never ".
I stood up and walked up to her and looked in her eyes and said,.." I will never put my son on drugs " and took my sons hand a left and never went back. They told me as I was leaving that I could not just leave the school without checking him out. I looked at my son and told him to never let anyone tell him what he can or cannot do. Today he is a high school freshman in a rural school where we live. He plays trumpet in the band.
I had taken hime to a private school after I left the elementary and by the the time he was in 5th grade he was reading college level.
The reason my son was not doing well in kinder was because I had taught him to read at the age of 3.

I don't believe in a magic pill for everthing and I don't even let my wife take medication unless she really needs it. She controls her diabetes with diet and when she is feeling moody we talk about it. anyways enough said.

proud dad

i take concerta there is nothing wrong with thee drug it helps me with my adhd aand i love it it works the best rock on concertaand i'm in high school im in 11 grade im 17 sorry bout ur son though rlly is sad

concerta rocks never say bad things about it
it dose not cause heart problems

Thanks for your posting. My son is 13 and has been on concerta for 2 weeks now and seems to be doing better. You always hear the bad stuff on these forums but hardly ever hear from the patient themselves. Thanks for the good feedback!

TO JLMOELLER:

I would like to chat with you about the methods you used to help your daughter with ADHD symptoms. My email is
emeraldcity103@yahoo.com

Thanks and look forward to hearing from you.

Is your son still on concerta.. I put my kids on it at the end of summer last year and they seem to be doing a ton better im just so scared of it.. thanks

My son, now 6, was born with a heart defect & had a mechanical valve put in when he was 11 months old. He's now doing great, but was diagnosed with moderate to severe ADHD in kinder & put on Concerta. Because of his heart condition & other meds I checked with his pediatric cardiologist at Children's Hospital, who is wonderful, and he said there were no issues with the Concerta. Hope that helps.

If you have a child on medication for ADHD or ADD, you would benefit from watching this revealing documentary by Gary Null that details the consequences of excessive medicating of our children with mind-altering drugs.

Kids are often labeled with ADHD simply for acting like kids: fidgeting, speaking out of turn, not wanting to sit still, and being hyper.

The diagnosis of ADHD is often made by teachers, without giving consideration to other potential factors like home life, diet, and environmental toxins. The end result for kids diagnosed with ADHD, as the video shows, is almost always medications.

The film, Drugging or our Children by Gary Null found on google video at http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-3609599239524875493&hl=en focuses on children who have been diagnosed ADD or ADHD, even though evidence to verify such a diagnosis is lacking.

Sue Ellen from PA

My 13 year old son is still on Concerta-it has been several months now-and he is doing so much better! His concentration has improved so much and his self esteem and general outlook are so much better. His appetite has decreased a lot and I have to remind him to eat sometimes, and if he takes it late in the day he has a little trouble sleeping. Other than that no side effects that we can see!
It has been the best thing ever!