When to suspect ADHD
Learn some of the signs and symptoms of ADHD
Most people with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are diagnosed at a young age…
…typically when they start to have problems with ADHD at school. They have difficulty paying attention or following directions, which makes it hard for them to perform in environments that require long periods of sitting still and focusing on a topic.1
Some signs of ADHD in children include2,3:
- Daydreaming, forgetting, or losing things a lot
- Not sticking with 1 activity long enough to finish
- Not being able to sit still; running around often
- Talking too much and interrupting a lot
- Making careless mistakes; taking too many risks
- Having trouble taking turns
- Touching and playing with everything they see
- Blurting out answers
Many parents with children who have ADHD describe them as a “whirlwind,” or like their “motor is always on.” Because their symptoms make it so hard for them to focus and learn, these children may have developmental delays that result in them acting younger than their age.4
Symptoms of ADHD can change over time as the child gets older
Unlike younger children, teens with ADHD don’t have as many problems with hyperactivity. Instead, ADHD symptoms in teens can include5:
- Trouble staying on top of homework
- Being easily distracted
- Irritability
- Inability to concentrate
- Impulsivity
ADHD in girls may be more subtle
Girls with ADHD may struggle scholastically and socially. But because ADHD symptoms in girls are more likely to be predominantly inattentive type rather than hyperactivity/impulsivity type, ADHD may not be suspected.6
Girls are less likely than boys to have6:
- Behavior issues
- School problems
- Learning disabilities
Girls also may develop coping techniques to deal with their symptoms, which could make ADHD hard to spot.7 That’s why it’s important to be alert for signs of persistent inattentiveness and seek an evaluation from a healthcare provider qualified to diagnosis ADHD.
References: 1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Facts about ADHD. http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/adhd/facts.html. Accessed May 23, 2016. 2. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. ADHD Fact Sheet. http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/adhd/documents/adhdfactsheetenglish.pdf. Accessed May 23, 2016. 3. National Institute of Mental Health. Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder. http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/attention-deficit-hyperactivity-disorder-easy-to-read/complete_34434.pdf. Accessed May 23, 2016. 4. National Resource Center on ADHD: A program of CHADD. What we know 1. The disorder named ADHD. http://www.help4adhd.org/. Updated February 2008. Accessed May 23, 2016. 5. WebMD. ADHD in Teens. http://www.webmd.com/add-adhd/childhood-adhd/adhd-teens. Updated August 8, 2014. Accessed May 23, 2016. 6. Biederman J, Mick E, Faraone SV, et al. Influence of gender on attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder in children referred to a psychiatric clinic. Am J Psychiatry. 2002;159(1):136-142. 7. Quinn PO, Madhoo M. A review of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder in women and girls: uncovering this hidden diagnosis. Prim Care Companion CNS Disord. 2014;16(3):PCC.13r01596.
IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION
Evekeo® (amphetamine sulfate tablets, USP) is a central nervous system (CNS) stimulant prescription medicine used for the treatment of:
- A sleep disorder called narcolepsy.
- Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in children 3 to 16 years of age. Evekeo may help increase attention and decrease impulsiveness and hyperactivity in people with ADHD.
- Exogenous obesity. Evekeo may be used as part of a short-term (a few weeks) weight reduction program for obesity in people who have not responded to other treatment.
IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION
Evekeo® (amphetamine sulfate tablets, USP) is a central nervous system (CNS) stimulant prescription medicine used for the treatment of:
- A sleep disorder called narcolepsy.
- Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in children 3 to 16 years of age. Evekeo may help increase attention and decrease impulsiveness and hyperactivity in people with ADHD.
- Exogenous obesity. Evekeo may be used as part of a short-term (a few weeks) weight reduction program for obesity in people who have not responded to other treatment.
Evekeo is not for use in children under 3 years of age.
It is not known if Evekeo is safe and effective in children with exogenous obesity under 12 years of age.
Evekeo is a federally controlled substance (CII) because it contains amphetamine that can be a target for people who abuse prescription medicines or street drugs. Keep Evekeo in a safe place to protect it from theft. Never give your Evekeo to anyone else because it may cause death or harm them. Selling or giving away Evekeo may harm others and is against the law.
WARNING: ABUSE, MISUSE, AND ADDICTION
Amphetamine sulfate has a high potential for abuse and misuse, which can lead to the development of a substance use disorder, including addiction. Misuse and abuse of CNS stimulants, including amphetamine sulfate, can result in overdose and death, and this risk is increased with higher doses or unapproved methods of administration, such as snorting or injection.
Before prescribing amphetamine sulfate, assess each patient’s risk for abuse, misuse, and addiction. Educate patients and their families about these risks, proper storage of the drug, and proper disposal of any unused drug. Throughout amphetamine sulfate treatment, reassess each patient’s risk of abuse, misuse, and addiction and frequently monitor for signs and symptoms of abuse, misuse, and addiction.
ADDITIONAL IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION
Do not take Evekeo if you or your child:
- are allergic to amphetamine products or any of the ingredients in Evekeo.
- are taking or have taken within the past 14 days, a medicine used to treat depression called a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI).
What is the most important information I should know about Evekeo?
Evekeo may cause serious sides effects, including:
Abuse, misuse, and addiction. Evekeo has a high potential for abuse and misuse and may lead to substance use problems, including addiction. Misuse and abuse of Evekeo, other amphetamine-containing medicines, and methylphenidate, can lead to overdose and death. The risk of overdose and death is increased with higher doses of Evekeo or when it is used in ways not approved, such as snorting or injection.
- Your healthcare provider should check you or your child’s risk for abuse, misuse, and addiction before starting treatment with Evekeo and will monitor you or your child during treatment.
- Evekeo may lead to physical dependence after prolonged use, even if taken as directed by your healthcare provider.
- Do not give Evekeo to anyone else.
- Tell your healthcare provider if you or your child have ever abused or been dependent on alcohol, prescription medicines, or street drugs.
Risks for people with serious heart problems. Sudden death has happened in people who have heart defects or other serious heart disease.
Your healthcare provider should check you or your child carefully for heart problems before starting treatment with Evekeo. Tell your healthcare provider if you or your child have any heart problems, heart disease, or heart defects.
Call your healthcare provider right away or go to the nearest hospital emergency room right away if you or your child have any signs of heart problems such as chest pain, shortness of breath, or fainting during treatment with Evekeo.
Increased blood pressure and heart rate. Your healthcare provider should check you or your child’s blood pressure and heart rate regularly during treatment with Evekeo.
Mental (psychiatric) problems can occur including:
- new or worsening behavior and thought problems.
- new or worsening bipolar illness.
- new psychotic symptoms (such as hearing voices, or seeing, or believing things that are not real) or new manic symptoms.
Tell your healthcare provider about any mental problems you or your child have, or about a family history of suicide, bipolar illness, or depression.
Call your healthcare provider right away if you or your child have any new or worsening mental symptoms or problems during treatment with Evekeo, especially hearing voices, seeing, or believing things that are not real, or new manic symptoms.
Before taking Evekeo, tell your healthcare provider about all of your or your child’s medical conditions, including if you or your child:
- have heart problems, heart disease, heart defects, or high blood pressure.
- have mental problems including psychosis, mania, bipolar illness, or depression, or have a family history of suicide, bipolar illness, or depression.
- have seizures or have had an abnormal brain wave test (EEG).
- have circulation problems in fingers and toes.
- have or had repeated movements or sounds (tics) or Tourette’s syndrome or have a family history of tics or Tourette’s syndrome.
- are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known if Evekeo will harm the unborn baby. Tell your healthcare provider if you or your child become pregnant during treatment with Evekeo.
- are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. Evekeo passes into breast milk. You or your child should not breastfeed during treatment with Evekeo. Talk to your healthcare provider about the best way to feed the baby during treatment with Evekeo.
Tell your healthcare provider about all of the medicines that you or your child take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.
Evekeo and some medicines may interact with each other and cause serious side effects. Sometimes the doses of other medicines will need to be changed during treatment with Evekeo. Your healthcare provider will decide if Evekeo can be taken with other medicines.
- selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs)
- medicines used to treat migraine headaches called triptans
- lithium
- tramadol
- buspirone
- serotonin norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs)
- tricyclic antidepressants
- fentanyl
- tryptophan
- St. John’s Wort
Know the medicines that you or your child take. Keep a list of your or your child’s medicines with you to show your healthcare provider and pharmacist when you or your child get a new medicine. Do not start any new medicine during treatment with Evekeo without talking to your healthcare provider first.
What should I avoid while taking Evekeo?
- Do not drive, operate heavy machinery, or do other dangerous activities until you know how Evekeo affects you.
What are possible side effects of Evekeo?
Evekeo may cause serious side effects, including:
- Slowing of growth (height and weight) in children. Children should have their height and weight checked often during treatment with Evekeo. Your healthcare provider may stop your child’s Evekeo treatment if they are not growing or gaining weight as expected.
- Seizures. Your healthcare provider may stop treatment with Evekeo if you or your child have a seizure.
- Circulation problems in fingers and toes (peripheral vasculopathy, including Raynaud’s phenomenon). Signs and symptoms may include:
- fingers or toes may feel numb, cool, painful.
- fingers or toes may change color from pale, to blue, to red.
Tell your healthcare provider if you or your child have numbness, pain, skin color change, or sensitivity to temperature in your fingers or toes.
Call your healthcare provider right away if you or your child have any signs of unexplained wounds appearing on fingers or toes during treatment with Evekeo.
- Serotonin syndrome. This problem may happen when Evekeo is taken with certain other medicines and may be life-threatening. Call your healthcare provider or go to the nearest hospital emergency room right away if you or your child develop any of the following signs and symptoms of serotonin syndrome:
- agitation, hallucinations, coma
- fast heartbeat
- flushing
- seizures
- sweating or fever
- loss of coordination
- confusion
- dizziness
- muscle stiffness or tightness
- changes in blood pressure
- high body temperature (hypothermia)
- nausea, vomiting, diarrhea
- New or worsening tics or worsening Tourette’s syndrome. Tell your healthcare provider if you or your child get any new or worsening tics or worsening Tourette’s syndrome during treatment with Evekeo.
The most common side effects of Evekeo include:
- headache
- stomachache
- trouble sleeping
- decreased appetite
- unpleasant taste
- nervousness
- dizziness
- sexual problems (impotence in males)
- vomiting
- itching
- diarrhea or constipation
- dry mouth
- weight loss
- mood swing
These are not all the possible side effects of Evekeo. Please see Full Prescribing Information for a full list.
The Important Safety Information does not include all the information needed to use Evekeo safely and effectively. Please see accompanying full Prescribing Information for Evekeo.
To Report SUSPECTED ADVERSE REACTIONS, contact Azurity Pharmaceuticals, Inc. at 1-800-461-7449, or FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch
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