FDA Says Some Generic ADHD Medications Not as Effective
The U,S, Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has raised questions about the effectiveness of two generic medications used to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). The agency said in November that generic versions of Concerta, the long-acting version of Ritalin, may not be “therapeutically equivalent” to the brand name and may not have the same benefits,
“Two of these generics, so to speak, were not exactly providing the same rate and extent of absorption of medicine that Concerta had,” said Dr. Andrew Adesman of Steven and Alexandra Cohen Children’s Medical, according to CBS.
The generic manufacturers have been given 6 months to show that their products are effective or voluntarily remove them from the market.
ADHD leads to difficulty in staying focused and paying attention, controlling behavior and hyperactive behavior. It is one of the most common childhood disorders and in some cases can persist into adulthood. Stimulant medications, such as Ritalin and Concerta, are a common treatment.
CBS News shares the story of 17-year-old Emily Hingle, who took a generic version of Concerta to treat her ADHD. While she was initially able to focus more, at one point her condition changed and she seemed to experience ADHD symptoms once again. “One teacher in particular like told me that I had senioritis and that I was slacking, but I knew that I was not like doing this on purpose,” Emily said to CBS News. Her mother told CBS “Emily’s grades dropped significantly,” Emily has switched to a different medication, and told CBS that it is working effectively and that her grades have improved. “It was like a weight had been taken off my shoulders,” she said.
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