Steroid Treatment Have Negative Effects for Both Young and Old

Separate studies have shown steroids to be harmful for two age groups, although these drugs are common treatments.

The first report, from the October 23rd issue of the Archives of Internal Medicine, states, “men and women older than 60 who take corticosteroids for longer than six  months are at greatly increased risk of deformities of the bones in the spine.” (FYI … inhalers used to “treat” asthma are corticosteroids!)  This report was based on a study of 229 patients who had taken corticosteroids for longer than six months, and was compared with 286 people the same age who did not take the drugs. The results showed that 28% of the corticosteroid-treated patients had at least one deformity of the vertebrae in the spine.

The second study examined the use of steroids in children for asthma and related problems. This study was published in the October 12, 2000 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine. The article stated long-term administration of systemic corticosteroids is a cause of impaired growth in children. The study showed that children treated with inhaled corticosteroids had less growth in height (1 to 1.6 cm [23 to 27 percent] less) than those assigned to other treatments. One of the concerns of the study was that they were unable to predict if this change in growth rate of the skeletal system was also accompanied by a change in organ system growth, including the brain. The authors urge caution.

The NEJM article did not mention studies showing the benefits of chiropractic for children with asthma. Such studies concerning chiropractic treatment for asthma included a 1996 study published by the Michigan Chiropractic Council and one from the Alberta Childrens Hospital in Calgary, Canada.

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Interested in more research on asthma? Check out some of these articles …

Antibiotics During First Year of Life Increases Risk for Asthma

Antibiotic Usage in Babies Linked to Asthma

Antibiotic Usage in Babies Linked to Asthma & Allergies

The opening remarks of an article from the October 1, 2003 BBC News states, “Babies given antibiotics are more likely to develop asthma and other allergies, research suggests.”

The article reports on research done at the Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit. Senior researcher and epidemiologist Dr. Christine Cole Johnson studied 448 children, whose development was tracked for their first seven years. The children were studied to see if there was a relationship between the early usage of antibiotics and the onset of asthma or allergies.

Assessing the children repeatedly, the research team discovered that by the age of seven, children who were given at least one antibiotic in the first six months of their lives were found to be:

• 1.5 times more likely to develop allergies by age seven than those who did not receive antibiotics, and 2.5 times more likely to develop asthma.
  
• 1.7 times more likely to develop allergies, and three times more likely to develop asthma, if they lived in those early years with fewer than two pets.
  
• nearly twice as likely to develop allergies if their mother had a history of allergies.
  
• nearly twice as likely to develop allergies if they were also breast-fed for more than four months, when combined with taking antibiotics.
  

Interestingly, babies who were breast-fed for more than four months, and who received antibiotics in their first six months were three times more likely to develop allergies, although they were no more likely to develop asthma. Also, interesting was the result that exposure to pets seemed to have a protective effect.

Those given antibiotics who lived in a family with fewer than two pets had 1.7 times the risk of allergies and three times the risk of asthma. However, when a family had two or more pets, the risk of allergies or asthma for the child was back to normal levels.

The biggest risk of all – an 11-fold increase – was found among children who were prescribed a broad-spectrum antibiotic, such as penicillin, were breast-fed for four months, and did not have family pets. The researchers also found evidence that the more courses of antibiotics a child received during their first six months, the higher their risk of developing an allergy.

“I believe we need to be more prudent in prescribing them for children at such a young age,” said Dr. Christine Cole Johnson. “In the past, many of them were prescribed unnecessarily, especially for viral infections like colds and flus when they would have no effect anyway.”

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Interested in more research on asthma? Check out some of these articles …

Antibiotics During First Year of Life Increases Risk for Asthma

Steroid Treatment Have Negative Affects

Antibiotics During First Year of Life Increases Risk for Asthma

A new study published in the June 2007 issue of the scientific journal Chest shows that the risk of asthma is one and a half times greater in babies who received more than four courses of antibiotics before age 1. The research was reported on the June 15, 2007 Medscape website and in several news outlets including the online June 11, 2007 Toronto Star.

Researchers reviewed healthcare and prescription databases in Manitoba, Canada of over 13 thousand children to see if there was an association between antibiotic prescription use during the first year of life and asthma at the age of 7. The results showed that children who had been given antibiotics in the first year of life were more likely to develop asthma by age seven. Children in this group who were given four courses of antibiotics were most at risk.

Study author Anita L. Kozyrskyj, PhD, from the University of Manitoba in Winnipeg, Canada, commented, “Since oral antibiotics are frequently prescribed for upper and lower respiratory tract infections in children, an understanding of the relation between antibiotic use and asthma is critical to clinicians and health-care policymakers worldwide.” She continued, “To address the major methodological issues of reverse causation and selection bias in epidemiologic studies of antibiotic use in early life and the development of asthma, we undertook a cohort study of this association in a complete population of children.”

The authors noted that further studies were needed but suggested, “In the interim, it would be prudent to avoid the unnecessary use BS antibiotics in the first year of life when other antibiotics are available.” They concluded, “Antibiotic use in early life was associated with the development of childhood asthma, a risk that may be reduced by avoiding the use of BS [broad-spectrum] cephalosporins.”

The authors noted that further studies were needed but suggested, “In the interim, it would be prudent to avoid the unnecessary use BS antibiotics in the first year of life when other antibiotics are available.” They concluded, “Antibiotic use in early life was associated with the development of childhood asthma, a risk that may be reduced by avoiding the use of BS [broad-spectrum] cephalosporins.”

The Toronto Star interviewed Dr. Sheldon Spier, a pediatric respirologist at the Alberta Children’s Hospital. Dr. Spier commented that this study may help explain why asthma develops in some children. “This study really is quite important,” he continued, “It tells us a lot more about asthma and the possible factors that lead to it. But we do have to be careful in our interpretation of it.”

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Interested in more research on asthma? Check out some of these articles …

Antibiotic Usage in Babies Linked to Asthma

Steroid Treatment Have Negative Affects

Effectiveness of Chiropractic in Correcting Asthma

Asthma has become a major health concern for children, doubling in the past 20 years. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimated that in 1998, approximately 17,299,000 people in the United States, or 6.4% of the population, had asthma, with cases among very young children up 160%. As reported in the June 16, 1999 issue of the Journal of the American Medical  Association, the number of people self-reporting asthma grew 75% between 1980 and 1994.

In another study conducted in 1996 by the Michigan Chiropractic Council (MCC), a panel of doctors tested the effectiveness of chiropractic care on children with asthma. The high demand of parents seeking alternative care for pediatric asthma was shown by the overwhelming interest in the study _ more than 500 parents called the MCC to participate.

The study, which took place during May and June of 1996, examined the impact of chiropractice care on asthmatic patients from birth to age 17. The average age of the participant was 10 years. “After 30 days of chiropractic health care, patients averaged only one attack, whereas prior to the study they were experiencing more than four attacks,” said MCC Dr. Bob Graham, who directed the study. “Medications, which can be costly, were decreased by nearly 70 percent. Finally, patient satisfaction was rated 8.5 on a scale of 10.” More than 70 chiropractors from 62 cities in Michigan studied more than 80 children suffering from asthma.

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Interested in more research on asthma? Check out some of these articles …

Asthmatic Children In Canada Use Non-Medical Care

Chiropractic Helps Infant with Serious Lung Condition

Link Made Between Asthma and Subluxations

Chiropractic Helps Infant with Serious Lung Condition

A case study published in the February 19, 2008 issue of the scientific periodical, the Journal of Vertebral Subluxation Research (JVSR), documents a case of an infant with bronchopulmonary dysplasia being helped with chiropractic. Bronchopulmonary dysplasia, (BPD), is a serious lung condition that affects infants who are born premature and have resulting breathing and lung problems.

The usual course of medical care for infants with BPD is continual administration of oxygen for the first 28 days in an intensive care unit. The National Institutes of Health estimate that the average length of intensive in-hospital care for babies with BPD is 120 days. In most cases after the child leaves the hospital, the infant will be placed on antibiotics and will need ongoing breathing treatments, and intermittent oxygen.

In this case a female infant was born premature at 24 weeks gestation, weighed only 593 grams and was diagnosed with BPD. As a result of the premature birth she had surgery for retinopathy, several rounds of antibiotics, and a feeding tube for three months. After 17 weeks in the hospital she was discharged. Her medical care continues and consisted of nightly requirements of 1/8-liter of oxygen, a ventilation machine and continuation of antibiotics.

Three months after her release from the hospital she was brought to a chiropractor for an analysis. At that time she weighed twelve pounds, and it was observed that she was listless, constipated, colicky, with pasty skin and sinus congestion. Additionally it was noted that her breathing was short and rapid, her limbs were rather flaccid and she did not make eye contact. She had also recently completed her last round of antibiotics.

Chiropractic care given was specific adjustments initially twice daily—morning and afternoon for two weeks, then three times per week for two weeks; reducing to twice a week for one week, then once a week and eventually once every two weeks. The case report noted that after the initial adjustment, her mother reported when her baby was placed on her back, she used her abdomen more to hold her legs up; she was not colicky and was able to pass gas easily for the first time. After the second visit, her sinuses drained and congestion resolved. After the third adjustment, the baby made a loud noise and was drawing in more air.

As care continued other improvements noted included, the ability to hold her head up with more control, and improved facial color and symmetry. Additionally, her bowel movements improved and she became verbally louder and more alert. After her 14th chiropractic adjustment, the baby girl was breathing fully on her own with no signs of cyanosis There was no medical intervention during her chiropractic care.

After 24 visits this baby’s life had been changed as she was then able to roll over on her own, was asymptomatic and has not needed to be readmitted to the hospital nor administered antibiotics.

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Interested in more research on asthma? Check out some of these articles …

Asthmatic Children In Canada Use Non-Medical Care

Effectiveness of Chiropractic in Correcting Asthma

Link Made Between Asthma and Subluxations

Asthmatic Children In Canada Use Non-Medical Care

An article from Reuters Health Information, printed in the Journal of the AMA, reports a survey that showed many children with asthma were seeking complementary medicine.

Dr. Sheldon Spier, of Alberta Children’s Hospital in Calgary, surveyed the parents of 117 pediatric asthma patients. Thirty percent reported using complementary medicine to help manage their children’s asthma symptoms, most commonly herbal medications, chiropractic, homeopathy, and vitamin C supplementation. The most common reason given for turning to complementary treatment was that the non-medical practitioners were perceived as treating the whole patient.

The International Chiropractic Pediatric Association lists several studies on its web site discussing the benefits of chiropractic for children with asthma. Some excerpts:

76.5% of patients with bronchial asthma said they benefited from chiropractic treatment. Peak oxygen flow rate and vital capacity increased after the third treatment.

Significantly lower quality of life impairment rating scores were reported for 90.1% of children after 60 days of chiropractic care. During this same time period the average number of asthma attacks decreased an average of 44.9%, and asthma medication usage was decreased an average of 66.5%.

Among parents of asthmatic children who had received chiropractic treatment, 92% considered this treatment beneficial.

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Interested in more research on asthma? Check out some of these articles …

Chiropractic Helps Infant with Serious Lung Condition

Effectiveness of Chiropractic in Correcting Asthma

Link Made Between Asthma and Subluxations

Link Made Between Asthma and Subluxations

It is estimated that up to 15 million people suffer from asthma. Of those, 14.8 million are children under the age of 18. In 1993 alone, there were 198,000 hospitalizations for asthma. In that same sample year, 342 people under the age of 25 died due to this problem. In money terms, the direct cost of managing a patient with severe asthma has been estimated at more than $18,000 per year.

The following statistics about asthma come from the Better Health & Medical Network.

• Asthma has increased 46% from 1982-1993 with an 80% growth in children under 18.
  
• In the 5-17 age group, asthma causes an annual loss of more than 10 million school days per year.
  
• Asthma accounts for more childhood hospitalizations than any other childhood disease.
  
• Children with asthma spend approximately 7.3 million days per year restricted to bed rest.
  
• In 1990, there were 7.1 million physician visits for asthma.
  
• Health care costs for asthma were estimated to be $6.2 billion, which is almost 1% of the total US health care costs.
  
• More than 5,200 Americans died from asthma in 1991.
  

Recent articles in publications such as “The American Chiropractor”, and “Today’s Chiropractic” describe strong links between people who suffer from these conditions and nerve interference from subluxation. Subluxations are when bones in the spine pressure or irritate nerves causing abnormal nerve function. An article appearing in the Journal of Vertebral Subluxation Research Vol. 1 No. 4, also demonstrated the positive effects of chiropractic care on 81 children with asthma.

According to Richard Pistolese, research assistant for the International Chiropractic Pediatric Association, “Based upon information currently available, chiropractic care represents a safe non-pharmacological health care approach, that may be associated with a decrease in asthma-related impairment, reduced respiratory effort, and a decrease incidence of asthma attacks.”
Pistolese goes further to say, “The correction of vertebral subluxation is a non-invasive procedure, which could reduce or eliminate the need for medication, and potentially ease the severity of the asthmatic condition.”

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Interested in more research on asthma? Check out some of these articles …

Asthmatic Children In Canada Use Non-Medical Care

Chiropractic Helps Infant with Serious Lung Condition

Effectiveness of Chiropractic in Correcting Asthma

Medical Treatments for Asthma

Lifestyle Modifications for Asthmatics

Advanced Clinical Lab Testing for Asthma

Some of the following laboratory testing can provide information necessary for the diagnosis and treatment of asthma. In addition, the tests listed may also give insight to functional metabolism and functional nutrient status in the body.

• Intestinal Bacterial and/or Parasitic Stool Analysis: Gastrointestinal pathogens play a role in efficient digestion and absorption of nutrients as well as the production on toxic metabolic products. A stool evaluation for these microbial agents can provide useful information regarding causes for nutrient deficiencies contributing to the disease process in asthma.
• Allergy and Food Sensitivity Assessment: Allergic responses to foods, inhalants, environmental chemicals, and other substances can cause a variety of responses that induce or aggravate asthma.
• Fatty Acids: There is evidence that increased omega-6 fatty acids and decreased levels of omega-3 fatty acids are involved in the etiology of asthma.
• Organic Acids: Organic acids analysis is a useful method for measurement of biochemical intermediates in urine. Vitamin B12 has applications in preventing bronchospasm. Organic acids assay provides an excellent functional assessment of B12. A subset of organic acids, the dysbiosis markers, may provide useful information regarding gastrointestinal pathogens that can contribute to immune compromise.
• Magnesium Level: There is considerable attention in the scientific community regarding the significance of magnesium in various chronic disease conditions, including asthma.
• Histamine Levels: Histamine is a neurotransmitter that is released during inflammatory processes.  These levels are easily measured through urinary ouput testing through NeuroScience.  If histamine levels can be reduced, symptoms associated with inflammation can subside.

Common Causes of Asthma

Environmental Contributors to Asthma Attacks

• Additives
  
• Air pollution (ozone, smog)
  
• Chemical odors (cleaners, nail polish, paint)
  
• Coal smoke
  
• Cooking fuel (kerosene, natural gas, propane)
  
• Heating units (coal, gas, kerosene, wood)
  
• Paint fumes
  
• Scents (air fresheners, colognes, perfumes)
  
• Tobacco smoke
  
• Wood smoke
  

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  Other Stressors Contributing to Asthma Attacks
  

• Antibiotics
  
• Candida Albicans overgrowth
  
• Cold air
  
• Cold drink
  
• Emotional stress
  
• Exercise
  
• Foods (wine)
  
• Gastroesophageal reflux (heart burn)
  
• Infection (upper respiratory)
  
• Nutritional deficiencies (magnesium, omega-3 fatty acids, selenium, vitamin B6 and vitamin C)
  
• Weather changes
  

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  Allergic Contributors to Asthma Attacks
  

• Grass/Tree/Plant pollens
  
• Animal dander
  
• Cat hair, saliva, urine
  
• Dog hair, saliva
  
• Cockroaches
  
• Dust mites
  
• Mold
  
• Foods (peanuts, corn, citrus, milk, wheat, yeasts)
  
• Food additives (sulfites, MSG, dyes, other preservatives)
• Pharmaceutical drugs (ASA, beta-blockers, estrogen, NSAIDs, PCN)

The Atlas Vertebra

IS YOUR HEAD ON STRAIGHT?

Play the animation of the atlas vertebra segment (1:05)	Many years of clinical research points to the fact that most of the problem associated with spinal misalignment and its consequences can be associated with the atlas vertebra, the top cervical bone in the neck.This single bone can effect the alignment of the entire spine. The spine is like a chain—when the first link is twisted and turned, each link down to the last turns—thereby disrupting the rest of the chain.Consider the atlas the first and therefore the most important link in that chain. The human body is balanced when the head is positioned in the center of the feet. When the atlas is misaligned it causes the head to tilt. The spine then shifts to support the weight of the head, thereby creating biomechanical and postural stresses and strains. When the atlas bone is properly aligned, that is in the neutral position, the rest of the spinal vertebra come into better alignment allowing the body to heal itself. The delicate and complex connections of the nervous system allow communication between the systems of the body. .
Play the animation of the misaligned Atlas (1:35)	The atlas vertebra weighs a mere two ounces and the human head weighs 9 to 17 pounds. The name ATLAS came from the comparison of the Greek mythology figure, Atlas, who carried the world on his shoulders. The atlas is located directly under the head, connecting the head to the rest of the spine.The atlas supports the weight of the head most efficiently in the orthogonal, or neutral position.Trauma in one form or another is the primary cause of misalignment. When the atlas vertebra is subjected to stresses and strains, it may be pushed out of proper alignment.Trauma may include the birthing process, car accidents (no matter how minor and regardless of immediate symptoms), slips and falls, blows to the head, or sports related injuries. Repetitive micro traumas, such as bad sleeping habits, poor posture, incorrect lifting and carrying can also cause misalignment. .
Play animation showing disruption of the normal function of the nervous system (1:09)	Once the atlas is moved out of the neutral position the body will compensate to maintain its center of gravity. It does this by keeping the head directly over the center of the feet. To maintain this level position of the head, the rest of the spine is thrown out of alignment. The body alters its structure in such a way that the muscles contract to cause one leg to appear shorter.In most cases one leg is not actually shorter than the other, but is drawn short due to the body’s compensation for the displaced atlas. The resulting misalignment may cause nerve pressure and inflammation causing a disruption of the normal functioning of the nervous system. This one dysfunction may play a role in a multitude of symptoms and pain in different areas of the body. Besides directly impacting the neck, we can see other effects such as decreased curves in the neck, scoliosis, and changes in the alignment in the shoulders and pelvis. These changes in the alignment affect the structural integrity of the skeletal system AND proper function of the nervous system. When either system is compromised, a host of other problems can occur ranging from headaches and neck pain to behavioral problems and learning difficulties or even poor digestion. .

Chiropractic and ADHD

A publication of the World Chiropractic Alliance

by George Burroughs, D.C.

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) affects millions of Americans — adults as well as children. By definition, ADHD is a neurologically based disorder and should, therefore, be treated by the experts in functional neurological disorders: doctors of chiropractic.

The drug Ritalin has not been tested for longterm side-effects or for any withdrawal-related complications, yet it is routinely given to individuals diagnosed with ADHD.

At best, Ritalin is simply masking the underlying neurological dysfunction associated with ADHD without doing anything to help ascertain a cure. Unfortunately, at its worst, the drug may be destroying the lives of millions of children. I find neither extreme appealing.

How can chiropractic help?

Probably the best way to begin helping an individual with ADHD, or his or her parents, is by educating them about chiropractic. Rather than treating the symptoms of ADHD, chiropractic treats the underlying cause of ADHD.

It is important to understand that “subluxations” are structural misalignments that cause neurological dysfunctions. The purpose of chiropractic is to identify and eliminate subluxations.

Symptoms give clue

Of course, there is no one specific subluxation that leads to the neurological manifestation of ADHD. However, the symptoms related to ADHD (hyperactivity, inability to pay attention, impulsivity) seem to indicate a disturbance with brain stem function. This concept is actually supported by the manufacturer of Ritalin, who admits that although “how” Ritalin works is not completely understood, it does appear to affect the brain stem.

I find this correlation between brain stem dysfunction and ADHD extremely interesting for chiropractic because a subluxation to the upper cervical (C1-C3) area can be the cause of brain stem dysfunction. Therefore, although every segment of the spine should always be assessed, chiropractors must pay special attention to the upper cervical region when treating individuals with ADHD.

Upper cervical subluxations can affect brain stem function through direct pressure. A second, and in my opinion more common, manner in which upper cervical subluxations can affect brain stem function is through altered proprioceptive input to the brain stem from the C1-C3 vertebrae and the related soft-tissue structures.

Proprioceptive “input” from the upper cervical area is required by the brain stem before a variety of neurological “outputs” or functions can be performed. Like a computer, the quality of the upper cervical “input” will determine the quality of the “output”. Therefore, if the input to the brain stem is altered (as is the case with an upper cervical subluxation), the output from the brain stem will also be altered.

In my opinion, ADHD is simply one example of altered brain stem “output”. The key to correction, therefore, lies not in treating the ADHD, but in treating the altered sensory input that caused the ADHD. Although somewhat confusing, understanding this is paramount to understanding how chiropractic “works” in cases involving ADHD.

Although proprioceptive information from the upper cervical area is the most important spinal-related source of sensory input to the brain stem, it is not the only source. Proprioceptive, or more accurately, “position sense” information is also sent directly to the brain stem from the vestibular and visual areas. Once in the brain stem, the sensory input from all three areas (upper cervical, vestibular, and visual) is utilized to determine many brain stem functions, including activity (or hyperactivity) levels.

Correcting subluxations, regardless of their location, is a vital contribution that only chiropractors can offer to children with ADHD. These children, along with their parents and teachers, need to be educated about the dangers of Ritalin and also about the healing power of chiropractic. Ultimately, all children should be able to experience the joy of a well-adjusted body.

(Dr. George Burroughs is a Magna Cum Laude graduate of Life College, with a B.S. degree from the State University of New York at Albany. He assisted in the development of neuro-synergy, a chiropractic technique originated by Guy Schenker, D.C., that focuses on functional neurological disorders such as learning disabilities, ADHD, and scoliosis. Dr. Burroughs has a private practice in Mobile, Ala.)

More on ADHD...

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FDA Changes Label Rules on ADHD Stimulants

On June 29, 2005 the Wall Street Journal Online published a remarkable article by Jennifer Corbett Dooren titled “FDA Wants Label Changes For Some ADHD Drugs.”

In the article, Dooren notes that the FDA is requiring new labeling changes for stimulant drugs used to treat ADHD. Most, it appears, are variations on methylphenidate (Ritalin, Concerta, etc.). The drugs have produced side-effects including, according to the FDA, events “such as visual hallucinations, suicidal ideation, psychotic behavior, as well as aggression or violent behavior.”

The article adds: “Meanwhile, the FDA is seeking the panel’s advice on what information it should provide to the public about the ADHD drugs that are widely used in children while it’s collecting information on the number of types of psychiatric events possibly associated with ADHD drugs along with possible cardiovascular risks.

“The agency is concerned with possible cardiovascular events in people using the drugs. Earlier this year Health Canada ordered Adderall off the market after reports of sudden death in 20 patients, including 12 reports of stroke.”

While these drugs clearly help some severely afflicted individuals, they also are increasingly being found to have adverse effects. At the same time some are being implicated as possible causes for liver cancer, scientists report that incidents of liver cancer in children have roughly doubled over the past two decades.

More on ADHD...

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Early Use of ADHD Drug Alters Brain

An article published on WebMD boldly stated that Ritalin use in preteen children may lead to depression later in life. Ritalin and cocaine have different effects on humans. But their effects on the brain are very similar. When given to preteen rats, both drugs cause long-term changes in behavior.

One of the changes seems good. Early exposure to Ritalin makes rats less responsive to the rewarding effects of cocaine. But that’s not all good. It might mean that the drug short-circuits the brain’s reward system. That would make it difficult to experience pleasure — a “hallmark symptom of depression,” Carlezon and colleagues note.

The other change seems all bad. Early exposure to Ritalin increases rats’ depressive-like responses in a stress test. “These experiments suggest that preadolescent exposure to [Ritalin] in rats causes numerous complex behavioral adaptations, each of which endures into adulthood,” Carlezon and colleagues conclude. “This work highlights the importance of a more thorough understanding of the enduring neurobiological effects of juvenile exposure to psychotropic drugs.”

These “knowledgeable” doctors out there writing prescriptions left and right for ADHD have no idea what these drugs are doing to the brain and nervous system.  Call me crazy, but this really bothers me.  Since when did it become okay to make humans, especially CHILDREN, the lab-rats and test subjects for such dangerous chemical drugs?

More on ADHD...

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Psychostimulants

Commercially available psychostimulants include:

** methylphenidate (Ritalin, Methylin, Metadate)

** D-amphetamine (Dexedrine, Dextrostat, Spansule)

** D,L-amphetamine (Adderall)

** magnesium pemoline (Cylert, PemADD)

These sympathomimetic compounds are structurally dissimilar but share a phenylethylamine backbone with endogenous catecholamines (eg, dopamine and norepinephrine). The mechanism of action of psychostimulants is thought to be re-uptake blockade of catecholamines into presynaptic nerve endings, thereby preventing their degradation by monoamine oxidase. In addition, amphetamine compounds appear to cause retrograde release of catecholamines through the transporter as well as other actions on the vesicular storage of catecholamines.^[11]

The mechanisms are “thought to” block natural occuring reactions in the body.  Although … they aren’t really sure …

Table 2. Psychostimulants Used in the Treatment of ADHD

Psychostimulant efficacy. An extensive body of literature has clearly documented the short-term efficacy of methylphenidate treatment, mostly in latency-age Caucasian boys.^[12] The literature describing the efficacy of stimulants on girls, ethnic minorities, and patients of other ages is more limited. Recently, a controlled study of stimulants in girls with ADHD documented substantial improvement of ADHD, matching that seen in boys.^[13] While most studies have examined only short-term response, there are a growing number of long-term studies documenting the persistence of stimulant-associated improvements.^[10,14-16]

Because our children are the lab-rats for these studies, without parental knowledge.

The few studies of stimulants in adolescents reported rates of response highly consistent with those seen in latency-age children.^[17-25] In addition, the few studies on preschoolers appear to indicate that young children respond almost as well to stimulant therapy; however, there is a suggestion that ADHD preschoolers may be somewhat more treatment refractory.^[25-30] The literature clearly documents that treatment with stimulants improves not only abnormal behaviors associated with ADHD but also self-esteem and cognitive, social, and family function. This finding supports the importance of treating ADHD patients beyond school or work hours to include evenings, weekends, and vacations. Recent controlled clinical trials documented the efficacy of methylphenidate, Adderall, and pemoline in adults with ADHD.^[31-33] These trials documented a highly clinically and statistically significant separation from placebo, and the magnitude of the effects was consistent with trials of latency age children.

Stimulants have been demonstrated to improve cognitive function in children with ADHD as measured by tests of vigilance, impulsivity, reaction time, short-term memory, and learning of verbal and nonverbal material.^[34-36] These stimulant-associated improvements also have been demonstrated in a simulated classroom paradigm.^[37,38] However, it appears that the primary deficits in ADHD are those of regulation of cognitive function and executive deficits,^[39,40] cognitive deficits that are not as amenable to measurement by objective tests. In individual children, the more prominent behavioral effects of stimulants have been more useful in clinically monitoring stimulant treatment than the cognitive tests per se.

While originally it was thought that cognition and behavior were responsive to different doses of stimulants,^[41] recent studies indicate that both behavior and cognitive performance improve with stimulant treatment in a dose-dependent fashion.^[35,42-48] Also, despite previous concerns, doses that improve behavior rarely constrict attention or cause “overfocusing.”^[49,50]

Psychostimulant safety. Common side effects of psychostimulants include appetite suppression and sleep disturbances. Usually, sleep disturbances can be alleviated by lowering late afternoon doses or adding clonidine or other medications.^[51,52]

Just what your child needs … more drugs to cover up the effects of more drugs.  These completely foreign substances to the human body MUST be making them healthier …

Occasionally, mild increases in pulse and blood pressure of unclear clinical significance have been observed.^[53]

“Unclear clinical significance?”  Apparently, a rise in pulse and blood pressure in children is not really clinically significant … we guess.  However, if your child presented with high blood pressure and increased pulse as a main complaint in a doctor’s office, would it be clinically significant then?  Maybe there are more drugs you can take for this “unclear” side effect!

Stimulant-associated toxic psychosis appears to be rare but resembles a toxic phenomenon (eg, visual hallucinosis) and not a schizotypal-like exacerbation of psychotic symptoms.

Since it is rare … why not overlook this minor detail that your child may be able to sit in a chair for a longer period … but now they see the flowers on your wallpaper dancing around the room.

Administration of pemoline has been associated with hypersensitivity reactions involving the liver accompanied by elevations in liver function tests (SGOT and SGPT) after several months of treatment.

Could this be because your body does not know what to do with these foreign substances and it therefore starts sending important organs into a state of dysfunction?  This is probably “unclear” as well.

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recommends monitoring liver function every 2 weeks;

What better way to make money than to require bi-monthly visits to your physician?

however, it is also advisable to educate parents about the warning symptoms of hepatitis. Such symptoms include stomach pain, gastrointestinal distress, and discoloration of urine (darker) or stool (lighter).

While stimulants are potentially abusable, a study has shown that the most commonly abused substance in ADHD adolescents and adults is marijuana and not stimulants.^[54]

Let’s see … your child is taking stimulants on a daily basis anyway, but since they are prescribed, it is okay to use that drug and therefore not considered abusive.  However, if your child is smoking dope everyday, and it is not prescribed … this is the only problem in this picture.

Another study suggests that stimulant treatment substantially reduces the risk for substance abuse generated by ADHD cognitive and behavioral impairments.^[55] However, appropriate education and monitoring is crucial to the safe prescription of psychostimulants in adolescents and adults.

While ADHD appears to be a major factor in the impairment attributed to Tourette’s syndrome,^[56] it is unclear whether the presence of tics has a general impact on the course of ADHD. Our group examined this issue in an ongoing prospective study of ADHD boys.^[57] We found that ADHD boys had more tic disorders at baseline and follow-up than controls. However, tic disorders had little impact on the psychosocial functioning of ADHD boys, and stimulant treatment was not associated with increased rates, severity, or persistence of tic disorders. Recent studies have demonstrated that stimulants are effective in many children with ADHD and tic disorders.^[58-60] Nonetheless, it seems prudent to weigh the risks and benefits of individual cases and to conduct appropriate discussions with the patient and family about the risks and benefits of the use of stimulants in individuals with ADHD and tics.

Concerns about the effects of long-term administration of stimulants on growth persist. Stimulants routinely produce anorexia and weight loss, but their effect on growth in height is much less certain. Initial reports suggested that there was a persistent stimulant-associated decrease in growth in height in children^[61,62]; however, other reports have failed to substantiate this claim.^[63,64] Moreover, several studies showed that ultimate height appears to be unaffected if treatment is discontinued in adolescence.^[65] A recent study suggested that deficits in growth in height may be transient maturational delays associated with ADHD rather than with the medication for ADHD.^[66] If confirmed, this finding would not support the common practice of drug holidays in ADHD children. However, it seems prudent to initiate drug holidays or alternative treatment in children suspected of stimulant-associated growth deficits. This recommendation should be carefully weighed against the risk for exacerbation of symptoms due to drug discontinuation. A transient behavioral deterioration can occur upon the abrupt discontinuation of stimulant medications in some children. The prevalence of this phenomenon and the etiology are unclear. Rebound phenomena can also occur in some children between doses, creating an uneven, often disturbing clinical course. In those cases, consideration should be given to alternative treatments.

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Medical Treatment for ADHD

Pharmacologic Treatment for ADHD

Psychostimulants	D-amphetamineD, L-amphetamine (DEXADRINE, ADDERALL) Magnesium pemoline (CYLERT, PEMADD)Methylphenidate (RITALIN, METHYLIN, METADATE)
Antidepressants	BupropionTricyclic antidepressants (TCAs) Desipramine Imipramine Nortriptyline
Noradrenergic specific reuptake inhibitors	Atomoxetine (STRATTERA)
Monoamine oxidase inhibitors	MAO-AMAO-BMoclobemide Phenelzine Tranylcypromine
Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs)	CitalopramFluoxetineFluvoxamine Paroxetine Sertraline Venlafaxine (possesses both SSRI and TCA properties)
Alpha-2 noradrenergic agonists	ClonidineGuanfacine
Cholinergic agents	Nicotine
Antipsychotic drugs*

*Although found to be mildly effective in improving behavioral symptoms in hyperactive children, the usefulness of antipsychotics in the treatment of ADHD is limited.

Source: Medscape.com

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Steroid Treatment Have Negative Affects for Both Young and Old

In two separate studies steroids were shown to be harmful for each of two separate age groups even though these drugs are common treatments. From the October 23rd issue of the Archives of Internal Medicine comes the first report that states, “that men and women older than 60 who take corticosteroids for longer than 6 months are at greatly increased risk of deformities of the bones in the spine.” (FYI … inhalers used to “treat” asthma are corticosteroids!)  This report was based on a study of 229 patients who had taken corticosteroids for longer than 6 months and was compared with 286 people the same age who did not take the drugs. The results showed that 28% of the corticosteroid-treated patients had at least one deformity of the vertebrae in the spine.

The second study on steroids was on their usage in children for asthma and related problems. This study was published in the October 12, 2000 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine. In that article it was stated that studies showed that long-term administration of systemic corticosteroids is a cause of impaired growth in children. The study showed that children treated with inhaled corticosteroids had less growth in height (1 to 1.6 cm [23 to 27 percent] less) than those assigned to other treatments. One of the concerns of the study was that they were unable to predict if this change in growth rate of the skeletal system was also accompanied by a change in organ system growth, including the brain. The authors urge caution.

The NEJM article did not mention or take into account the studies showing the benefits of chiropractic for children with asthma. Such studies concerning chiropractic included a 1996 study published by the Michigan Chiropractic Council and one from the Alberta Childrens Hospital in Calgary, Canada.

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1 in 25 U.S. Children On Medication For ADHD

Sadly, this is true.  Don’t believe it?  Talk to Richard Scheffler, Distinguished Professor of Health Economics & Public Policy at UC Berkeley and director of the campus’s Nicholas C. Petris Center on Health Care Markets and Consumer Welfare. Can you believe it?  How could 1 in 25 U.S. children be on a potent psychiatric medication?  The United States undeniably leads the world in diagnosing and treating ADHD with medication totaling more than $2.4 BILLION … in 2003.  You can guarantee this spending has increased in the last 5 years. We fill approximately 83% of the world’s prescriptions for ADHD.

This report is very disturbing.  There is no objective test for ADHD.  It is a compilation of symptoms that are viewed as abnormal including distractibility, hyperactivity, impulsiveness and other symptoms.  If you are a parent, think about this logically — How could we go from ZERO children being treated with these medications when you were a child to 1 in 25 being treated now? Either we have some new major health crises that was not present in previous generations or there is a problem with over-diagnosing and over-treating unacceptable behaviors.
A few more interesting statistics:

–Between 1993 and 2003 use of ADHD medications increased by 274%.

–Monthly prescriptions for Ritalin, the standard treatment, increased from 4000 in 1994 to 359,000 in 2004.  (This is just for Ritalin!)

What are the long-term effects of treating all these millions of children with potent psychiatric drugs?  No one knows since long-term studies have never been done on these medications.

Stimulant medications should be the last resort for our children–not the first thing given when there are problems.   I think the report on the wide spread ‘drugging’ of our children is a travesty.  There is a lot of blame to go around for this.  I advise you to not medicate your children without seeking  a full evaluation and carefully considering all the options available.

Check out the positive research supporting the use of chiropractic adjustments in helping ADHD and other behaviorial problems.

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5 Year Old ADHD Boy Helped by Chiropractic

In the October 2004 issue of the peer-reviewed research publication, the Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics (JMPT), comes a case study of a child with ADHD (Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder), who was helped with chiropractic.

The case was of a 5 year old boy who had been diagnosed with ADHD at age 2. The child’s pediatrician prescribed methylphenidate (Ritalin), Adderall, and Haldol for the next 3 years. The combination of drugs was unsuccessful in helping the child.

At age 5 the child was brought to a chiropractor to see if chiropractic care would help. The history taken at that time noted that during the childs birth, there were complications during his delivery process. The results of this trauma and complications resulted in a 4-day stay in the neonatal intensive care unit. The childs mother reported no other incidence of trauma.

The chiropractic examination and x-rays showed noticeable spinal distortion including a reversal of the normal neck curve indicative of subluxations. Chiropractic care was begun and the child’s progress was monitored.

According to his mother, positive changes in her son’s general behavior were noticed around the twelfth visit. By the 27th visit the patient had experienced considerable improvement.

The child was brought by the mother to the medical doctor for a follow up visit and questioned the usage of the Ritalin. The medical doctor reviewed and examined the child and based on that assessment and his clinical experience, the MD felt that the young boy was no longer exhibiting symptoms associated with ADHD. He then took the boy off the medications that he had been taking for 3 years.

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