A new ADHD drug, Attenace, will likely hit pharmacy shelves in
early 2006. This "new" ADHD drug isn’t actually so new to the
about 20,000 people currently taking Provigil "off-label" for
ADHD. Attenace contains modafinil, the same active ingredient in
the narcolepsy drug Provigil. Modafinil is a stimulant drug that
is chemically unrelated to the other stimulant ADHD medications.
Although Attenace is a stimulant medication, it is not
classified as a controlled substance under the Controlled
Substance Act. This translates to the convenience of phone-in
refills and less prescription hassles at the pharmacy. Attenace
has a different chemical structure but it still poses many side
effects consistent with the side effects of the other stimulant
ADHD medications. There are also a few new side effects, like
sexual dysfunction, that adults might find less than pleasant.
Before you knock on your doctor's door asking for a
prescription, there are a few things you should know about this
new ADHD medication. First, it is not known how well Attenance
will work or how it compares in effectiveness to the current
ADHD drugs since the three trials conducted on Attenace only
compared Attenace to a placebo instead of to its potential
competitors. Cephalon conducted three 9-week double-blind,
placebo-controlled studies of more than 600 children and
adolescents between the ages of six and 17 with ADHD. Cephalon
reports that Attenace "significantly improved" the symptoms of
ADHD in children and adolescents, when compared to placebo, in
three studies of the drug. Secondly, Attenace (modafinil) has
side effects ranging from mildly disturbing to potentially
life-threatening. Given the relatively small test sampling to
date, Attenace side effects are not fully known at this point.
It can be assumed that Attenace will have similar side effects
to Provigil since they are made from the same drug. Below are a
listing of common Provigil (modafinil) side effects. _ Headache.
_ Blurred vision. _ Dry mouth. _ Nausea, vomiting, abdominal
pain. _ Constipation or diarrhea. _ Sleep disturbances/insomnia.
_ Loss of appetite/weight loss. _ Stuffy nose. _ Back pain. _
Confusion. _ Anxiety and agitation. _ Nervousness, aggression,
hostility. _ Unstable moods. _ Depression. _ Decreased sex
drive. _ "Pins and Needles" feeling. _ Rash or itching. _
Dizziness. _ Widening of blood vessels. _ Weakness or loss of
strength. _ High/increased blood pressure. _ Alteration in
results of liver function tests. _ Chest pain. _ Increased heart
rate. _ Drug dependence. _ Allergic reaction. Attenace may be
habit forming and has the potential for abuse and dependence .
You should discuss the abuse and dependence potential of
Attenace with your doctor. This drug should not be taken by
anyone who has been or currently is dependent on alcohol or
drugs. Symptoms of an Attenace overdose might include
excitation, agitation, insomnia, sleep disturbances, anxiety,
irritability, aggressiveness, confusion, nervousness, tremor,
palpitations, nausea, and diarrhea. Contact your doctor
immediately or seek emergency medical attention if you
experience any of the following uncommon but serious side
effects: _ An allergic reaction (difficulty breathing; closing
of the throat; swelling of the lips, tongue, or face; or hives).
_ Irregular heartbeats. _ Low or high blood pressure. _
Shortness of breath. Before taking Attenace, tell your doctor if
you have; _ Left ventricular hypertrophy. _ Chest pain. _
Irregular heartbeats. _ History of heart attack. _ High blood
pressure. _ Unstable angina. _ History of mental illness. _
Kidney disease _ Liver disease. Attenace, along with all other
ADHD medications currently on the market, is not recommended for
children under the age of six since its safety and effectiveness
has not been determined. Despite ADHD drug manufacturer's own
labels warning against prescribing these powerful drugs to young
children, doctors increasingly prescribe ADD medications to
children under the manufacturer recommended age. A Journal of
the American Medical Association (JAMA) article in 2000 noted a
"disturbing" increase in the amount of stimulants and
anti-depressants prescribed for children under the age of five.
Parents should carefully consider the health effects of placing
small children on powerful ADHD medications, even if the child's
health care provider prescribes a medication for ADHD or ADD.
People using ADHD medications know that these little pills are
never the "cure-all" answer. Attention Deficit requires a
multifaceted approach which requires many different tactics and
combination of tactics. What works is highly individual,
depending on individual needs. Many people with Attention
Deficit Disorder and parents of children with Attention Deficit
Disorder find great Attention Deficit Disorder and ADHD success
from diet supplementation - especially with amino acids and
essential fatty acids - a shift in parenting tactics, modifying
the home and school environment, biofeedback, neuro-linguistic
programming, stress relief measures and exercise. The greatest
successes are found by being bold and trying a combination of
many measures.
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