Sudden death from ADD drugs
Attention to Detail
If you have a young child or grandchild -- especially a hyper little boy -- there are probably times when his energy level jumps so high, you think, "This kid must have ADD." Maybe you've already spoken to doctors about treatment options.
Be careful. Even with doctors diagnosing more and more cases of attention deficit disorder (ADD) and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), other doctors are seeing dangerous results from the drugs used to treat this condition, including the most scary side effect of all: sudden death from ADD drugs.
Recent studies have linked popular ADD drugs such as Ritalin, Concerta, and Adderall to at least 25 cases of sudden death in children and adults between 1999 and 2003. These drugs have also been connected to heart attacks, strokes, and life-threatening, abnormal heartbeats.
These results are hardly surprising. Many of the drugs doctors rely on to treat ADD are amphetamines, which are frequently associated with heart attacks, stroke, and sudden death. One FDA safety committee was so concerned that it recently advised the government to require "black box" warning labels on certain drugs, an idea that is still under consideration.
Research shows that 10 percent of 10-year-old boys in this country are taking these drugs. In my opinion, only about 1 to 2 percent of these children should actually be medicated, especially when there are so many causes of this disorder that can be dealt with in other, natural ways.
Now don't get me wrong. I'm not one of those guys who say, "ADD is a crock! What that child needs is some good, hard discipline."
But in truth, a little extra discipline probably wouldn't hurt. It could also help to pull your kid away from the television and video games, and to have tests done for food allergies and sensitivities and mineral deficiencies. All of these things have been linked to ADD in children.
I know that in serious cases, medication is beneficial for treating ADD. But these drugs are often over-prescribed and should be used only as a last resort.
Of course, you're probably not surprised to hear me -- a doctor who favors natural remedies whenever possible -- encourage caution against a mainstream prescription drug. But guess what? Even I can admit that some natural remedies have flaws too.
Saw palmetto only decreases somewhat-enlarged prostates
For years, doctors and nutritional experts have recommended saw palmetto extract to men with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) -- a fancy term for an enlarged prostate, which can cause urinary problems.
This remedy dates back hundreds of years. Even Native Americans used saw palmetto to ease urinary problems. And in Europe, where much of the research originated, saw palmetto has always been recommended to men with mild BPH.
One of the best things about saw palmetto is that it doesn't cause the side effects, such as impotence, that are associated with its drug equivalent, finasteride (brand name Proscar).
However, if you are suffering from a more serious case, this remedy may not be for you. In a recent clinical trial, scientists studied 225 men, all of them older than 49, and all with symptoms of an enlarged prostate. Some men took 160 mg of saw palmetto extract twice a day for a year, while others were given a placebo.
At the end of the study, doctors found no major differences between the men taking saw palmetto and those taking the placebo.
But I'm not writing off saw palmetto. After all, other studies have shown that this plant has good effects in men with mild symptoms, and can be a good, safe, practical alternative for men whose cases are moderate enough, and who may not require more potent prescription drugs.
Of course, you should always talk to your doctor before using any kind of treatment -- nutritional or otherwise. But if your doctor thinks you have a good case for natural treatment, I usually recommend a combination of saw palmetto, stinging nettle, and Africanum Pygeum, an evergreen tree native to southern Africa that has also been frequently used to treat prostate problems.
Avandia linked to diabetic macular edema
Here's another drug to worry about, this time for diabetics.
The FDA recently issued an alert to diabetes patients taking drugs containing rosiglitazone, including Avandia.
Avandia's maker, GlaxoSmithKline, recently mailed a letter to doctors informing them of reports that diabetic patients taking the drug had experienced increased swelling in the macula -- the region of the eye where visual perception is sharpest.
Though diabetics often deal with macular swelling -- which results from fluid leaking through small blood vessels into surrounding tissues -- patients reported worse problems after taking rosiglitazone, the generic name for Avandia. In most cases, the patients also had foot or leg swelling.
Most cases ended after the patient quit taking the drug.
For more information about Avandia, be sure to read my article in the May issue, "10 drugs we can do without."
Well, I'm out of space and time for now. Don't worry. On Thursday I'll tell you about how to control your blood sugar through relaxation therapy, and you'll learn a better way to predict and prevent heart disease.
