Drug information ‘first’ for children with common disorder

Medicines used to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in children have become the first in the country to include information written specifically for youngsters following work by researchers in Yorkshire.

It is the first time a dedicated section for children has been added to patient information leaflets provided with any medicine taken by under 18s.

More than half a million prescriptions for the stimulant medicine used to treat the condition are dispensed each year in England.

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The move, led by researchers from Leeds University and the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency, aims to help youngsters understand more about the medicines and how to take them safely.

It gives information about the potential side-effects with examples relevant to youngsters - for instance telling them to avoid activities such as climbing trees or riding a bike if they feel dizzy.

Pharmacy expert Prof Theo Raynor, who led the work, said: “Children and young people are the main consumers of these medicines.

“It is important that they have the opportunity to know why they have been given this drug treatment and how it can help them.

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“The revised leaflet now gives them a chance to read about their medication in an easy and informative way.

“This is the first time that children and teens have had a chance to comment on the information that goes into medicine packs and it has proven to be very successful. We are now hoping that this approach can be taken for other medicines that are used widely by children, perhaps medicines for asthma or epilepsy.”

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