Leukemia Forum - Leukemia, Aplastic Anemia And Ritalin

We have a very serious concern, please read and pass it on! I only wish someone had passed this on to me, or that I had been privy to this information 10 years ago. Note: this information is of a serious nature and is intended for adults.

This is a true story. One of our children has been diagnosed with aplastic anemia. Much worse than it sounds, it’s bone marrow failure (damage), effecting all 3 blood cell types, and potentially, chromosomal changes resulting in genetic dna damage; after nearly 8 years of ritalin consumption. Initially, a urinalysis identified proteins in the urine (indicative of disease). Blood tests showed ‘low blood platelets’, two bone marrow biopsies (bmb) confirmed a diagnosis of aplastic anemia. Fyi - a bone marrow biopsy reveals “cellularity”, which is “the quality and quantity of the billions of cells our bone marrow creates per day.” our child should be at 60-70% cellularity. The first bmb revealed a cellularity of 15-20% with patches of 1-2%. We suspected the ritalin then, but our oncologist denied the connection, however, we discontinued it’s use anyway. Two years later, now 2006, our child’s red & white blood cells now followed suit and are now both seriously low too. All tests ruled out pre-existing genetic tendencies for disease, so it’s technically, secondary aplastic anemia (it was acquired). A 1991 rx drug guide lists “low blood platelets, and low red & white blood cells as a severe adverse reaction to ritalin.” additionally, the pdr (physician’s desk reference) guide from as early as 1979 also listed itp, and leukopenia, as serious adverse reactions. However, this information is not on drug label warnings that parents receive today. Why has this information been suppressed? We are horrified, shocked and outraged! The reason I write? An estimated 6 million children on ritalin. It is not known how long a child must be on these types of meds to begin experiencing a toxicity in their blood cells, but i’m concerned it may not be too long, see http://www.Newswis e.Com/articles/view/510069/ (see study info below too). We believed the adhd lie…... Please read on…

generic ritalin is methylphenidate hydrochloride (methylin). This includes: ritalin (sr & lr) focalin, methylin er, metadate er, concerta. Strattera and adderall are mixed salts. These are central nervous system stimulants, and they are “not” mild. Let’s call it what it is: legalized speed (amphetamines). These drugs not only alter the brain, but the body in totality, they alter behavior by altering the child; physically, mentally, and emotionally. The very things you are trying to treat with these drugs are also symptoms these drugs cause over time. While admittedly these drugs are very effective “controls,” they do not cure any “alleged adhd” symptom. Adhd is often diagnosed frivolously and is nothing more than a list of behaviors that could apply to the general population. It is not a disease in life or in autopsy. Meanwhile, this drug alters brain neurotransmitters, shrinks the brain over time, stunts growth, causes vision impairments, memory loss, and inflicts immune system toxicity (poison) by chemically altering the blood cells and bone marrow which causes serious harm. Many deaths to date have been heart related. However, it is clear to our family that damage reaches far beyond the heart to the hematological system (i.E. “genetic toxicity of the blood and immune system.”) in effect, it is an exposure to a higher risk of cancer/leukemia. Sometimes aplastic anemia is a pre-cursor to leukemia. It is also important to note, this has quietly progressed in our child. Symptom-less! If that’s not enough, the above related damage could extend to infertility and reproductive harm. Do we really have “drug free school zones?” new off campus drugs are “extended time release pills” to stay in the body longer, releasing chemicals over time. You may think that your child will not make it to adulthood without these medications, we erroneously thought that too. Now we wonder if our child will live to adulthood? Can you imagine that epiphany! Our own u.S. Military will exclude our children from service because of the use of these medications. We are too busy and preoccupied to properly disciple and teach our own children better ways of behavior, we desire a quick fix, and so we have become a ritalin nation consuming 90-95% of the world’s ritalin.

Ritalin was marketed in 1955 (before testing required), authorized for use in children in 1961. On the market 45 years. I highly suspect this drug was predominately shunned and/or used short term by the majority of parents in 60’s, 70’s, to mid 80’s. In the 50’s they called children “fidgety”, 60’s “hyperkinetic”, 80’s “add”, in 1987 an “h” was added and adhd was born. Within one year 500,000 children were labeled with adhd (1988). However, in the 90’s ritalin consumption increased exponentially 600-800%! We are a society that has become complacent with drugging our children to control behaviors (to control them). With new buzz words like o.D.D. (oppositional defiance disorder) on the horizon. Some children are being diagnosed and medicated with several different labels (adhd/bi-polar) and psychotropic drugs at one time. Rx labeling restricts use of these drugs to children under age 6, although toddlers are now being targeted for administration; as are cancer patients, and the elderly. Dilemna , a false sense of security that the drug is safe (time on market); therein seemingly safe to medicate long term; cultural acceptance of labeling kids with behavior/learning related disorders (calling them diseases)& drugging them. We simply must see big pharma for what it is, “a smiling, billion dollar industry.” this is unacceptable. What is needed is an explosive public outcry.

Research: 45 years later and up till now, very little research has been done on humans regarding ritalin. Why? But then, in 2005 a texas ritalin study showed all 12 children had significant chromosomal concerns after only 3 months on the drug. How can novartis go 45 yrs. & not know that? To date, they still ‘claim’ that they do not know the long term effects. The texas study has now prompted a $2 million dollar budget allocation by the fda for budget year 2007, to specifically “study and evaluate the genetic toxicity and behavioral effects of chronic methylphenidate exposure.” it’s more than a little late. Some 40 years after the drug was first marketed mice developed a statistically significant incidence of liver abnormalities and tumors, including highly aggressive rare cancers known as hepatoblastomas. Http ://www.Preventcancer.Com/patients/med_avoi d/ritalin.Htm 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 fda 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. Here’s another: http://www.F da.Gov/bbs/topics/answers/ans00705.Html the fda has received numerous “severe adverse reaction” complaints about ritalin. In fact, there have been other reported cases of blood platelets, blood cell, and bone marrow failures associated with ritalin, but these reports are seemingly buried. They appear in files with names such as: “itp”- immune thrombocytopenia purpura; leukopenia; pancytopenia; neutropenia; and aplastic anemia. It is paramount that you understand that I do not believe my child’s case is an isolated rare incident, but rather, a fact of what these drugs do to children over time. This was not a side effect, this is a forward effect. Follow me? It will probably take them another 45 years to do a study lasting 2-3 years, let alone 8 years. Giving children dna damaging drugs to the tune of 6 million is “scandalous!” more backside covering will certainly follow when it cannot be hidden any longer. I cannot even be assured at this point that I would completely trust a study result funded by the fda. The fda is not doing a proper job of protecting us, and are in fact, part of the problem. They’re new “preemptive policy” will actually help to shelter drug companies from tort liability cases. See: adhd, drug labels, and the fda: the continuing pre-emption of public health at http://psychrights.Org/drugs/stimulant s4adhd/jacksonpre-emption.Pdf (9th article from the top). Some motivation? In 1991, schools began receiving educational grants of $400 annually for each adhd child. The same year, the us department of education classified the disorder as a handicap, which required special services to be provided to each disabled child. These funds are factual but are categorically hidden in the various disability labels to which schools receive funding for. A few years later, it was classified as a disability and a cash incentive program was initiated for low-income families with children diagnosed with adhd.

Benzene is hailed in some reports as the mother of all carcinogens. Ritalin has a benzene ring in it’s chemical structure. The simplest member of a benzene ring is benzene. Ritalin appears to be displaying “benzene like effects” with it’s ability “like benzene” to cause aplastic anemia. I am aware of 3 rx drugs that do cause aplastic anemia; all 3 are anti-convulsant medications and all have very serious black box warning labels, but ritalin does not. I urge you to view those warnings at www.Rxlist.Com for carbamazepine, felbamate & ticlopidine. Also see http://www.Humboldt.E du/~morgan/methyl.Htm search for this phrase: “the benzene ring is also one of the major reasons that methylphenidate has such strong side effects with certain prescription drugs like … anti convulsants, (rxlist.Com).” other ingredients of concern are methylphenidate (ethyl) hydrochloride (salts) & polyethylene glycol (used to make many plastics products in our environment today, & a derivative of ethylene.)

if your child is on ritalin: I strongly recommend “a cbc complete blood count with platelets” be requested and monitored over time. Learn to read the blood/lab reports yourself. Look for items “out of range.” parents have a right to know. It’s called informed consent. Please tell anyone you know who will listen and consider this information. Note: please consult a physician when discontinuing medication of any kind.

If you are prescribed medication, you can go online to http://ww w.Accessdata.Fda.Gov/scripts/cder/drugsatf da/ and type in the drug name, check out it’s approval history, labeling info., and read the studies that may or may not have been done. Define words with online medical dictionaries and ask pharmacists for the “drug insert fact sheet” on serious adverse reactions for each drug you take, they receive them from the manufacturer, but only give them out if you ask for them. They provide them upon request.
Links:
fda 2007 budget – genotoxicity of chronic methylphenidate exposure.
Http://www.Fda.Gov/oc/oms/ofm/b udget/2007/html/tables/sourcesoffunding.Ht m (12th row down from top)
2005 texas ritalin study results - http://psyc hrights.Org/drugs/cytogenetic-ritalin.Pdf< /a>
fda transcript report; doctors discussing ritalin study – ie. Read pages 49-72
http://www.Fda.Gov/ohrms/doc kets/ac/05/transcripts/2005-4152t2_transcr ipt.Pdf
upcoming fda-niehs study - genetic meas. In blood cells of children taking adderall /methylphenidate http://www.Clinicaltrials.Gov/ct/gui/show /nct00341029;jsessionid=597b445aca1f5de19b 35f16bcbbeb0d2?Order=33
psychopharmacology team projects - ritalin a medication of paradox
http://www.Humboldt.E du/~morgan/methyl.Htm and http://www.Humboldt .Edu/~morgan/adhd_s01.Htm
federal laws pertaining to adhd diagnosed children (idea) school funding….
Http://www.Pbs.Org/wgbh/pages/f rontline/shows/medicating/schools/feds.Htm l
fda preemptive policy, to avoid tort liability cases towards drug companies - http://www.Newstarget.Com/ 018698.Html

this information has been condensed for distribution purposes. I cannot possibly afford the mass distribution this info deserves, but with your help, electronic and hard copies can be distributed worldwide. Please write us for an electronic copy, if your child is ill in like manner, or you appreciated the notice, perhaps you have questions or comments? There is hope, write us at rita lindanger@yahoo.Com