The New ADHD MedicationsWritten by Jeannine Virtue
Pharmaceutical companies vying for Ritalin’s hefty market share are coming up with new formulas and aggressive campaign ads to compete in this $1 billion per year ADHD drug industry. Pharmaceutical companies introduced five new drugs to treat ADHD in past five years, with another ADHD drug expected on market in early 2003 and more are being developed. The relative newcomers Adderall and drug Concerta are now joined by Metadate CD, Ritalin LA and Focalin. Another formula, Atomoxetine, should hit market in just a few months. The new ADHD drugs give people choosing drug therapy wider options. Yet, parents, doctors, FDA and DEA alike worry that unprecedented marketing tactics will further drive up demand for ADHD medications, as well as increase drug abuse for these high powered drugs. Ritalin enjoyed ADHD corner market for decades. Adderall, with its longer acting formula, jumped in for its share in 1996 and quickly began chiseling at Ritalin’s market share. The drug Concerta, a reformulation of Ritalin, followed in 2000. Then, Metadate CD and Focalin appeared. Not willing to lose its share in market, Ritalin makers began developing new formulas, first - Ritalin LA - reaching FDA approval in June. In late November FDA approved Eli Lilly and Company’s new ADHD formulation, Strattera (atomoxetine). New ADHD formulas hitting market is not all that surprising. After all, market is wide open and growing. New prescriptions for Attention Deficit Disorder increased almost 40 percent over past five years. Last year doctors wrote 20 million prescriptions for ADHD medications. More American children are diagnosed with Attention Deficit than in any other country in world. Concerta, Adderall, Metadate CD, Ritalin LA, Focalin all high potential for side effects, drug dependency and abuse and are closely related to illegal street drugs. Strattera is different in that this is first non-stimulant medication. It is ironic though that every day millions of children line up to counter for their dose of meds while person caught in possession of these drugs without a prescription face felony charges. These drugs cannot be good for young minds and young bodies. Of less severe side effects, children might lose weight, have problems falling asleep, have decreased appetite, and temporarily grow more slowly while taking ADHD medications. Other side effects can include cardiac arrhythmia, depression, psychosis, facial tics, liver damage, abuse and addiction. Some doctors also believe that some ADHD medications may also worsen symptoms of Tourette's syndrome.
| | What Kind of Fat Can You Eat?Written by Renee Kennedy
Research has shown that you not only need to watch "amount" of fat that you eat in your diet, but also "types" of fat you eat. This article will help you minimize negative effects that fat has on your health.1. Basic Terms: - "Bad" cholesterol clogs your arteries and causes heart disease. - "Good" cholesterol helps collect up bad cholesterol and get it out of your system. - Saturated fat is "bad fat" that increases bad cholesterol in your body. - Polyunsaturated fat is "good fat" that lowers both good and bad cholesterol. - Monounsaturated fat is "really good fat" that helps lower bad cholesterol, but leaves good cholesterol alone. - Fatty acids are building blocks of fat. - Trans fatty acids are made in production of partially hydrogenated vegetable oils used to make margarine and many snack foods and processed foods. - Whole foods are unprocessed food that occur in nature... nuts, meat, milk, poultry, eggs, fish, seeds, grains, rice, fruits, vegetables. 2. Why Fat is Bad: Fat is calorie-dense, it contains more than twice number of calories as carbohydrates. A high fat diet has been linked to several chronic diseases such as cancer and increased risk of coronary heart disease. Saturated fats can increase bad cholesterol. 3. Why Fat is Good: It gives taste and texture to foods. Unsaturated fats can decrease bad cholesterol in your body. 4. How Fat in Your Diet Affects You: Fat in your food can affect you differently depending on your particular health issues. If you are at risk for heart disease, saturated fat is something you want to avoid. According to American Heart Association, a heart healthy diet can contain up to 30% of calories from fat, as long as most of fat is unsaturated. More on heart-healthy diet: http://www.nutricounter.com/articles/garrett3.htm
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