This is really interesting. As I was reading the article I was wondering how they were going to wring money out of it, as amlodipine is off patent. Then I got to this part:
“While amlodipine shows promise in preclinical models, it is not currently suitable for use in ADHD in its marketed form,” Karlsson noted. “Further optimization through chemical modification is necessary to enhance CNS selectivity and ensure a favorable therapeutic index in the context of ADHD.”
Classic big pharma. Slightly tweak an existing drug in an insignificant way so that you can get a new patent on it and charge exorbitant prices.
There’s no reason to believe those changes aren’t needed to work more effectively though, especially if it’s trying to be classified as an ADHD medication. Changing one molecule really can fundamentally change a drug, if it’s the right molecule changed the right way, it’s not inherently a cash grab, there’s not enough info here about the chemistry and its applications to make that call
This is correct. Amlodipine is very effective as a blood pressure medication, but it doesn’t get through the blood-brain barrier which is one of the biggest hurdles for any psychiatric or neurologic medication. There’s an entire special sub-type of brain cells that control what actually makes it out of the blood and to the neurons and getting things past that barrier is quite difficult.
It’ll be the same flat, cheap prescription price as all prescribed medication is though, so it doesn’t really matter what it is or how it was produced.
It’s only countries like the USA that somehow get duped into paying wildly obese financial sums for cheap medicine. I feel for them.
Is it going to still work on blood pressure? I don’t like the idea of taking meds because I want to resolve things with diet and exercise when possible, and I’m afraid of side effects. But if I eventually have to start taking a blood pressure medication and the side effect is it makes my ADHD better, I could get on board with that.
Yes, but this poses me with a self identity dilemma. Am I the type of person who takes a blood pressure medication that happens to treat their adhd, or am I more the sort who takes adhd meds which happen to treat their high blood pressure?
From what I understand about blood pressure, you should consider taking the meds now and then moving off them once diet and exercise have helped the situation. Hypertension is bad for you health.
That’s a really good heads up. I hadn’t thought about it much from that angle - that I might already be doing damage that’s hard to reverse.
I got my blood pressure machine from the basement and the first reading was systolic 141 diastolic 78. But I had just climbed stairs from the basement. I sat for a couple minutes and now it’s 115 over 75. Less anxiety inducing. Definitely something I should be tracking frequently and not have tucked away in the basement though.
This is really interesting. As I was reading the article I was wondering how they were going to wring money out of it, as amlodipine is off patent. Then I got to this part:
Classic big pharma. Slightly tweak an existing drug in an insignificant way so that you can get a new patent on it and charge exorbitant prices.
There’s no reason to believe those changes aren’t needed to work more effectively though, especially if it’s trying to be classified as an ADHD medication. Changing one molecule really can fundamentally change a drug, if it’s the right molecule changed the right way, it’s not inherently a cash grab, there’s not enough info here about the chemistry and its applications to make that call
This is correct. Amlodipine is very effective as a blood pressure medication, but it doesn’t get through the blood-brain barrier which is one of the biggest hurdles for any psychiatric or neurologic medication. There’s an entire special sub-type of brain cells that control what actually makes it out of the blood and to the neurons and getting things past that barrier is quite difficult.
Get outta here your nuance and critical thinking. /s
It’ll be the same flat, cheap prescription price as all prescribed medication is though, so it doesn’t really matter what it is or how it was produced.
It’s only countries like the USA that somehow get duped into paying wildly obese financial sums for cheap medicine. I feel for them.
I have Adha and hypertension. As such I have an unused bottle of amlodapine at home. I’ll take it and report back
[email protected] 30 days
On the bright side, off-label drug prescription is legal and ethical, if a bit bizarre.
Is it going to still work on blood pressure? I don’t like the idea of taking meds because I want to resolve things with diet and exercise when possible, and I’m afraid of side effects. But if I eventually have to start taking a blood pressure medication and the side effect is it makes my ADHD better, I could get on board with that.
They’re reformulate it and call it something new. They’ll still sell amlodipine for blood pressure.
Yes, but this poses me with a self identity dilemma. Am I the type of person who takes a blood pressure medication that happens to treat their adhd, or am I more the sort who takes adhd meds which happen to treat their high blood pressure?
From what I understand about blood pressure, you should consider taking the meds now and then moving off them once diet and exercise have helped the situation. Hypertension is bad for you health.
That’s a really good heads up. I hadn’t thought about it much from that angle - that I might already be doing damage that’s hard to reverse.
I got my blood pressure machine from the basement and the first reading was systolic 141 diastolic 78. But I had just climbed stairs from the basement. I sat for a couple minutes and now it’s 115 over 75. Less anxiety inducing. Definitely something I should be tracking frequently and not have tucked away in the basement though.
Clonidine can do that