Access Press Responds
Access Press has a proud
history of printing a great deal of substantive and accurate information
about mental illness. The two “News
at a Glance” items that Ms. Abderholden refers to in our August
2005 issue, presented news facts with biased and unnecessary commentary.
Below you will find two articles from primary sources on the topics
of the FDA’s review of anti-depressant use among adults and
children.
First article: From FDA July
1, 2005 Talk Paper, www.fda.gov
FDA
Reviews Data for Antidepressant Use in Adults
In response to recent scientific publications that report the possibility
of increased risk of suicidal behavior in adults treated with antidepressants,
the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a Public Health
Advisory (PHA) to update patients and healthcare providers with the
latest information on this subject.
Even before the publication of these recent reports, FDA had already
begun the process of reviewing available data to determine whether
there is an increased risk of suicidal behavior in adults taking
antidepressants. The Agency has asked manufacturers to provide information
from their trials using an approach similar to that used in the evaluation
of the risk of suicidal behavior in the pediatric population taking
antidepressants. This effort will involve hundreds of clinical trials
and may take more than a year to complete.
In the meantime, the PHA advises health care providers and patients
to be aware of the following:
Adults being treated with antidepressant medicines, particularly
those being treated for depression should be watched closely for
worsening of depression and for increased suicidal thinking or behavior.
Close observation of adults may be especially important when antidepressant
medications are started for the first time or when doses for the
specific drugs prescribed have been changed.
Adults whose symptoms worsen while being treated with antidepressants,
including an increase in suicidal thinking or behavior, should be
evaluated by their health care professional.
These recommendations are
consistent with warnings already present in approved labeling for
antidepressants used by adults. FDA will provide updated information
as it becomes available. The Public Health Advisory is available
on line at www.fda.gov
New Guidelines for School Admin.
of Medications - May 2005
The new Minnesota Guidelines
for Medication Administration is a guideline that provides a uniform
framework for safely administering prescription and nonprescription
medications. Those affected include: school boards and administrators,
principals, school nurses and school paraprofessionals, health educators,
parents and students. The guidelines were developed collaboratively
by the Minnesota Departments of Education, Health, and Human Services;
the Minnesota Board of Nursing; and a statewide multidisciplinary
work group. The guidelines can be found at www.health.state.mn.us
[NOTE: The Guidelines were published before the 2005 law was enacted
regarding high school students carrying over-the-counter pain medication
(Chapter 126, Sec. 1 (SF 232) adding MS 122.222 to the school medication
statute. Guidelines 2.5 and 7.7 of the resource address over-the-counter
medications.
Further examination of the
new requirement is underway. Learn more at www.pbs.org Frontline
program on ADHD and medication.
