A San Francisco journalist explores the options and treatments for forgetfulness to brain drain. Brain scans show signs of only advanced stages of disease and could not detect subtle memory deficits – problems that can be caused by a whole host of conditions that are common in midlife. And though her brain scan was normal, she scored poorly on some memory and attention tests. (Read More About Adderall and Memory)
Some also think that caffeine is the answer to their memory problems. But not if they are on Adderall!
Why?: Caffeine and Adderall Don’t Mix
These days overachieving teens and young adults are rising and shining into high overdrive all day and all night because they are buzzed on caffeine drinks, energy drinks, and even caffeine-infused vodka mixed with an illegal cocktail of prescription drugs, stimulants like Adderall.

New River Pharmaceuticals and Shire plc say they received a second approvable letter from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for VYVANSE, lisdexamfetamine dimesylate, for the treatment of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, or ADHD. (Read More About This Drug, Adderall Side Effects & Lawsuits)

Marijuana and methamphetamine use among teenagers has declined in the past five years, but the rise in prescription drug use among teens is a growing concern.
According to a University of Michigan study, teen drug use has declined 23 percent since 2001, less use of nearly every drug except the prescription drug OxyContin, which saw a 30 percent increase in use during the last year.
There was also a rising use of prescription drugs like Adderall and Xanax. Adderall is used to treat children with attention-deficit or hyperactivity disorders. The drug is a stimulant and many users claim it helps them focus. Kids who use Adderall want it for its speed effect. A lot of kids who abuse Adderall will find someone at school who is ADHD and buy the pills from them. (Source)

Shire to sue generic competition over Adderall XR
The last thing a pharmaceutical company wants is another pharmaceutical company to make a cheaper, generic drug. Where would all the profit go? Shire PLC is suing generic drug maker Andrx Pharmaceuticals, which is trying to launch a copycat version of the top-selling hyperactivity pill Adderall XR, for patent infringement.
Andrx is the fifth generic drug maker that tried to launch cheaper versions of the Adderall XR. Health insurance is expensive for a reason and here’s the reason…no cheaper generic drugs allowed.

Teens who can’t read well may also be at high risk for suicide, a new study warns. They’re also more likely than other kids their age to drop out of school. Poor readers were three times more likely than typical readers to consider or attempt suicide and six times more likely to drop out of school. Source: http://www.adhdissues.com/ms/news/535821/main.html

Adderall: FDA Issues Stronger Warnings for ADHD Stimulants
The FDA now requires the manufacturers of amphentamine-containing ADHD drugs (Adderall) to include a black box warning, which is found in the package insert, informing patients about the possibility of sudden death and serious cardiovascular problems associated with these drugs. Source: http://www.worstpills.org

An investigational d-amphetamine prodrug appears to be effective in treating pediatric attention deficit hyperactivity disorder with the goal of less abuse potential than amphetamines. All dose levels of lisdexamfetamine (NRP104) were significantly more effective than the placebo. The result of a phase III study was presented at the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry meeting.
The study included 290 patients aged six to 12 with a primary diagnosis of ADHD. The participants were randomized to receive 30 mg, 50 mg, or 70 mg daily or placebo for four weeks followed by a 30 day observation period. Researchers concluded that those who received the drug were much improved than those who received the placebo.
Adverse events were consistent with what has been seen with other amphetamines. No serious adverse events were reported and most were mild or moderate in severity. The study was supported by New River Pharmaceuticals, which developed the drug, and Shire, which will market it. (Med Page)

Girls diagnosed with ADHD in elementary school are at greater risk than teenagers for substance abuse, delinquency, failure in school, early sexual activity, low self-worth and poor friendships, says a longitudinal study from the University of California, Berkeley.

October 10—Shire plc announced today that its collaborative partner New River Pharmaceuticals Inc. has received an approvable letter from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for NRP104 (lisdexamfetamine dimesylate), for the treatment of pediatric ADHD. According to the FDA’s letter, marketing approval of NRP104 is contingent upon final scheduling by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration. No additional studies have been requested by the FDA as a condition for approval of NRP104. Shire and New River will continue dialog with FDA officials to agree upon a final trade name. Shire and New River Pharmaceuticals are preparing for a product launch (Medical News)

Can Shire Cash In? The new drug is thought to be an improvement on the older treatment because it is less susceptible to abuse. Following approval, NRP104 is expected to offer patients, their families, and healthcare providers an important new treatment for ADHD, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.
Although the FDA has suggested the drug is placed in schedule two of the Controlled Substances Act, which means it has a “high potential” for misuse – the same level as Adderall XR.