FRANKLIN LAKES, N.J., March 21 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- As the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) reviews cardiovascular and psychiatric side-effects of medications for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), new research released today finds that in 2005, the greatest growth in use of these drugs continued to be among younger adults, while children’s overall usage grew at a much slower rate.
According to the analysis by Medco Health Solutions, Inc. , the number of younger adults aged 20 to 44 using ADHD medications increased more than 139 percent from 2000 to 2005, outpacing increases in children 19 and younger by 82 percent. This new data confirms a trend first identified by an earlier Medco analysis released last year that found increases in ADHD medication use among adults was greater than it was for children in a four- year period ending in 2004.
“This new research indicates that we’re seeing a growing trend in the use of ADHD medications among adults; in 2005 the numbers continued upward from 2004, as they have every year since the beginning of this decade,” said Dr. Robert Epstein, chief medical officer, Medco. “While there is a growing acceptance that ADHD is not just a childhood disease and can impair adults as well as children, the possible cardiovascular issues associated with ADHD drugs should be weighed very seriously when prescribing these drugs for adults since they’re at a greater risk of heart disease and stroke than children.”
The FDA is currently reviewing safety issues surrounding stimulant medications used to treat ADHD. An FDA advisory committee that met earlier this year voted to recommend that these drugs carry a “black box” label warning for increased risk of sudden death and serious cardiovascular problems, the strongest warning the FDA can apply. Just recently, the FDA also called for stronger warnings for ADHD medications because of reports of psychosis or mania seen in patients on these drugs, especially younger children. An FDA pediatric advisory panel is scheduled to meet later this month to discuss issues related to ADHD medication use in children.
The Medco analysis, which reviewed the prescription data of 2.5 million patients nationwide, found that while the number of children under 10 taking these medications has increased almost 65 percent from 2000 to 2005, their numbers actually decreased by more than 5 percent from 2004 to 2005. Additionally, over 6 percent of these children younger than 10 on ADHD medications were also taking an antipsychotic drug.
“While some young children may very well need these medications to treat their ADHD, a side-effect as serious as psychosis must be considered when weighing the risks and benefits of these drugs,” said Epstein. “The drop in medication use among this age group in the past year may indicate that physicians and parents are indeed taking these risks seriously.”
The analysis also showed a continual rise in the number of adult women taking medications to treat ADHD. Among females aged 20 to 44, use of ADHD medications increased by 164 percent over the five-year analysis period, a growth rate 45 percent greater than their male counterparts. Further, in 2005, the percentage of women between 20 and 44 years old taking ADHD medications was almost equal to that of men in the same age group, a major contrast to data from the pediatric population, which reveals use of ADHD medications is twice as high in boys as it is in girls. However, the number of girls taking these medications is growing as well. Among girls ages 10-19, use of ADHD medications from 2000 to 2005 increased 90 percent, a growth rate 45 percent greater than their male counterparts.
“While boys still far outnumber girls taking ADHD drugs, girls are increasingly being diagnosed and treated for the condition,” said Epstein. “ADHD in girls can be less noticeable than in boys and in the past was often overlooked. However, that appears to be changing.”
Other findings of the analysis include: -- Growth in the number of adults 20 to 44 using ADHD medications from 2004 to 2005 was nearly 19 percent, while there was only a 2 percent rise among children ages 10 to 19 -- The cost of ADHD drugs increased 475 percent among 20- to 44-year-olds from 2000 to 2005, but grew at an 11 percent slower rate in 2005 than it did in 2004 -- In 2005, an estimated 1.7 million adults ages 20 to 64 and almost 3.3 million children 19 and younger used an ADHD medication in the U.S. Medco’s ADHD Drug Safety Program
Medco has taken a proactive role in addressing the potential safety issues surrounding ADHD medications by alerting physicians of possible cardiovascular risks for patients on ADHD medications through its integrated data system, the RationalMed(R) Patient Safety System. Physicians prescribing ADHD drugs may not be aware that their patient has a cardiovascular condition. RationalMed reviews patients’ pharmacy and medical claims, and lab tests to determine if there’s a potential risk in taking an ADHD medication and, when a safety issue may exist, alerts the patient’s physician of this potential problem. RationalMed has established special black box alerts for patients with cardiovascular risk factors who are using ADHD medications including patients who have had heart failure, endocardial/valvular disorders, conduction disorders, cardiomyopathy, structural heart disease and strokes.
About Medco
Medco Health Solutions, Inc. is a leader in managing prescription drug benefit programs that are designed to drive down the cost of pharmacy healthcare for private and public employers, health plans, labor unions and government agencies of all sizes. With its technologically advanced mail-order pharmacies and its award-winning Internet pharmacy, Medco has been recognized for setting new industry benchmarks for pharmacy dispensing quality. Medco serves the needs of patients with complex conditions requiring sophisticated treatment through its specialty pharmacy operation, which became the nation’s largest with the 2005 acquisition of Accredo Health. Medco, the highest-ranked prescription drug benefit manager on Fortune magazine’s list of “America’s Most Admired Companies,” is a Fortune 50 company with 2005 revenues of nearly $38 billion. On the Net: http://www.medco.com.
This press release contains “forward-looking statements” as that term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements involve risks and uncertainties that may cause results to differ materially from those set forth in the statements. No forward-looking statement can be guaranteed, and actual results may differ materially from those projected. We undertake no obligation to publicly update any forward- looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise. Forward-looking statements in this press release should be evaluated together with the risks and uncertainties that affect our business, particularly those mentioned in the Risk Factors section of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Medco Health Solutions, Inc.
CONTACT: Ann Smith, Medco Health Solutions, Inc., +1-201-269-5984,ann_smith@medco.com; or Janet Schiller or Melissa Mackey, Coyne PublicRelations, +1-973-316-1665, for Medco Health Solutions
Web site: http://www.medco.com/
