Amphetamine For Kids: Candy-Flavored ADHD Meds Worries Psychiatrists; What Parents Must Know

A new ADHD medication is now available at the drugstores and it's a chewy, candy-flavored pill that should make it easier for kids to swallow. While this might be great news for parents who struggle with letting children drink their medicines, psychiatrists have their concerns about the drug. Here's what parents must know about Adzenys XR-ODT .

Adzenys XR-ODT  is an extended-release ADHD drug that was developed by Neos Therapeutics and it hit stores mid-May. The orange-colored, fruity-flavored orally disintegrating tablet appeals to 6-year-old kids and above. When taken, it quickly dissolves in the mouth even without drinking water.

Similar to other ADHD medications, such as Adderall and Ritalin, this drug contains amphetamine, minus the awful and bitter taste. However, some psychiatrists and children's doctors believe that Adzenys XR-ODT  should not have been approved for release. There are worries about potential overmedication among kids, which could trigger drug dependency and drug abuse problems later on.

California psychiatrist Dr. Mukund Gnanadesikan said that packaging amphetamine as a better-tasting ADHD medication serves only those who want to make money off the drug, without really helping the kids, per STAT. This type medication can be easily abused and as it is, children diagnosed with ADHD condition already account for a big chunk of the pharmaceutical market. At least 75 percent of kids take ADHD medications, per Washington Post.

Candy-flavored ADHD drug #Adzenys has psychiatrists worried - parents must know #makhealth https://t.co/M20hMZMSIZ pic.twitter.com/iWYXryYBHP

— Stacey Wachtfogel (@swachtfogel) May 26, 2016

Among teenagers, ADHD medications are also misused as stimulants when studying for tests or in sports competitions, per the New York Times. Amphetamine is also a common party drug and since Adzenys XR-ODT comes in blister packs, it's more convenient to bring and hide these now.

However, there are also other experts who think that there is no cause for concern with Adzenys XR-ODT. Psychiatry professor Dr. Ben Biermann believes that the drug is not a revolutionary ADHD treatment and it doesn't have unique side-effects compared to other amphetamines. "It's simply another delivery mechanism for a medication that already exists and has widespread use," he told STAT. It should help those with ADHD follow through on their medication better.

However, one doctor pointed out that the real problem isn't in the options for ADHD medication, but in the rate at which these are prescribed. Psychologist William E. Pelham Jr. said that the CDC guideline for ADHD treatment recommends behavioral therapy first instead of medication, per Good.

What's your take on this matter? Is the worry premature or not? Share your thoughts in the comments!