Ritalin and Cancer?

[Guest guest]

http://campaignfortruth.com/Eclub/130902/ritalinandcancer.htm

Ritalin and Cancer?

American Academy of Pediatrics Guidelines for Treating Behavioral Disorders in

Children with Ritalin Ignores Evidence of Cancer Risks warns S. Epstein,

M.D.

Based on an industry-funded multi-university trial on 282 pre-teen children

treated with Ritalin for attention deficit/hyperactivity disorders (ADHD), just

published in Pediatrics, the American Academy of Pediatrics has endorsed the use

of the drug. However, the Academy ignores clear evidence of the drug's cancer

risks of which parents, teachers and school nurses, besides most pediatricians

and psychiatrists, still remain uninformed and unaware.

Some 40 years after the drug was first marketed by Ciba Geigy, carcinogenicity

tests were conducted at the tax payer's expense by the National Toxicology

Program, the results of which were published in 1995.

Adult mice were fed Ritalin over a two-year period at dosages close to those

prescribed to children. The mice developed a statistically significant incidence

of liver abnormalities and tumors, including highly aggressive rare cancers

known as hepatoblastomas. These findings are particularly disturbing as the

tests were conducted on adult, rather than young mice which would be expected to

be much more sensitive to carcinogenic effects.

The National Toxicology Program concluded that Ritalin is a " possible human

carcinogen, " and recommended the need for further research. While still

insisting that the drug is safe, the Food and Drug Administration admitted that

these findings signal " carcinogenic potential, " and required a statement to this

effect in the drug's package insert. However, these inserts are not seen by

parents or nurses.

The Physicians' Desk Reference admits evidence on the carcinogenicity of

Ritalin, now manufactured by Novartis, qualified by the statement that " the

significance of these results is unknown, " apparently not recognizing that this

is more alarming than reassuring. Apart from cancer risks, there is also

suggestive evidence that Ritalin induces genetic damage in blood cells of

Ritalin-treated children.

Concerns on Ritalin's cancer risk are more acute in view of the millions of

children treated annually with the drug and the escalating incidence of

childhood cancer, by some 35% over the last few decades, quite apart from

delayed risks of cancer in adult life.

These risks are compounded by the availability of alternative safe and effective

procedures, notably behavior modification and biofeedback.

There is no justification for prescribing Ritalin, even by highly qualified

pediatricians and psychiatrists, unless parents have been explicitly informed of

the drug's cancer risks. Otherwise, prescribing Ritalin constitutes unarguable

medical malpractice.

CONTACT: Cancer Prevention Coalition National Office: 2121 West Street,

MC 922, Chicago, IL 60612, e-mail epstein@....

www.preventcancer.com